THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 

la-s.  Elmer  T,  Merrill 


J  U  D  A  H'S      LION: 


BY 


(OHAIEILiOf^E   EILMABSEIo 


NEW -YORK 


PUBLISHED     BY     JOHN     S.     TAYLOR   &   CO. 
Brick  Church  Chapel,  145  Nassau  Street. 

1843. 


S.    W.    BENKDICT    &    CO.,    PRINT., 

128  Fulton  street. 


JUDAH'S  LION. 


CHAPTER    I. 


*  Oh,  cousin  Allck,  how  I  do  envy  you  I'  said  Esther 
Cohen,  with  a  sigh. 

'  I  can  believe  it,  my  poor  little  coz,'  replied  the  per- 
son addressed.  '  Compared  with  town  itself,  this,  to  be 
sure,  is  a  free  place,  where  you  may  breathe  and  glance 
round  you  :  but  what  a  look-out  one  will  have  from  the 
mast-head  of  a  tali  ship,  over  the  rich  blue  waters 
of  the  Mediterranean,  with  its  clusters  of  isles,  all 
immortalized  in  song.  And  then  for  the  sandy  desert, 
the  high  mountain-top,  the  dark  ravine,  the  deep  defile, 
the  broad  majestic  waters  of  the  seven-mouthed  river, 
and  all  the  untold  wonders  of  nature  and  art,  that  lie 
outspread  beneath  the  ken  of  travellers  so  enterprising, 
so  sagacious,  so  classically  and  scientifically  accomplished 
as  your  redoubtable  cousin  Alick  !' 

But  it  was  for  none  of  these  things  that  Esther  Cohen 
sighed  ;  her  fancy  had  indeed  pictured  the  track  that  she 
had  just  seen  her  uncle  point  out  on  a  chart  with  the  fea- 
tures referred  to  by  Alick,  and  very  attractive  they  would 
have  been  in  her  eyes  had  not  all  other  considerations 
2 


/ 


6  judah's  lion. 

been  lost  in  the  paramount  one  which  evidently  was  omit- 
ted in  her  kinsman's  catalogue  of  anticipated  delights. 
Syria — Palestine — Mount  Zion — these  were  ever  promi- 
nent to  the  view  of  that  Hebrew  maiden.  Gladly  would 
she  have  trod  the  whole  route,  a  fettered  and  blindfolded 
captive,  to  have  found  herself  at  the  end  of  it  within  sight 
of  Jerusalem,  with  permission  to  weep  over  its  departed 
glories.  Her  thought  by  day,  her  dream  by  night,  was 
of  the  dispersion,  the  degradation  of  her  people;  and 
while  the  occasional  outbursts  of  higher  patriotism  which 
she  could  not  control  were  good-humoredly  smiled  at,  and 
herself  regarded  as  a  pretty  enthusiast  by  the  members  of 
her  uncle's  household,  she  was  altogether  isolated  in  the 
midst  of  them,  by  the  consciousness  that  this,  the  deepest 
feeling  of  her  heart,  was  totally  unshared.  Reading,  me- 
ditation, and  a  strict  attention  to  all  the  prescribed  forms 
of  her  religion  were  therefore  the  elements  on  which  her 
zeal  was  chiefly  fed :.  and  Esther  Cohen,  though  amiable 
in  a  high  degree,  and  universally  beloved  by  all  around 
her,  would  not  have  shrunk  from,  but  rather  have  gloried 
in,  the  distinction  of  heing  a  most  rigid  and  bigoted 
Jewess. 

Her  uncle,  the  younger  brother  of  her  deceased  father, 
was,  on  the  contrary,  a  complete  liberal  in  religion.  He 
came  of  high  lineage  among  the  descendants  of  Abraham, 
and  certainly  prided  himself  in  the  unmixed  character  of 
his  pedigree,  which  owned  no  Gentile  intermarriage 
throughout  its  long  and  wide  ramifications ;  but  he  was,  to 
all  intents  and  purposes,  a  man  of  the  world,  prosperous 
in  a  lucrative  and  honorable  branch  of  traffic,  devoted  to 
the  pursuit  of  such  advantages  as  he  deemed  most  desira 
ble  for  his  family,  and  above  all  things  solicitous  to  see 
his  people  relieved  from  the  pressure  of  civil  disabilities, 
and  exalted  lo  a  place  in  the  legislature.     Confident  that 


judah's  lion.  ' 

this  would  soon  be  the  result  of  the  efforts  in  progress,  he 
had  brought  up  his  son  with  a  special  view  to  rendering  him 
eligible  for  such  distinctions  ;  and  to  this  end  he  had  libe- 
ralized to  an  extent  by  no  means  approved  among  his 
stricter  brethren  ;  who  considered  that  their  young  kins- 
man might  occupy  his  expected  station  among  Gentile 
senators  and  officials  without  being  unmindful  of  his  own 
peculiar  privileges  as  a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews. 

Nathan  Alexander  Cohen,  however,  gave  himself  very 
little  concern  with  regard  either  to  the  prognostics  of  his 
father  or  the  scruples  of  their  friends.  Full  of  animal  life, 
buoyant  in  spirits,  frank,  sociable,  and  impetuous,  he 
found  himself  possessed  of  all  the  advantages  that  this 
world  can  bestow  upon  its  votaries,  and  sported  like  a 
young  colt  in  the  wide  pleasant  field  assigned  for  his  pas- 
turage and  play.  Proud  he  was  to  excess ;  but  his  pride 
was  quite  distinct  from  that  of  Esther  or  his  father.  Jea- 
lousy of  his  personal  honor  and  privileges  formed  its  chief 
point ;  to  which  he  added  a  nationality  quite  foreign  to 
the  general  character  of  his  people  ;  for  he  deemed  it  his 
chief  glory  to  be  an  Englishman.  Vain  were  his  cousin's 
indignant  remonstrances,  and  the  occasional  reprimands  of 
elder  friends ;  the  boy  had  been  brought  up  in  a  large 
school,  where  all  religious  differences  were  smoothed 
down  after  the  most  approved  fashion  of  modern  indiffer- 
entism  ;  and  little  as  his  father  was  suspected  of  any  fa- 
natical attachment  to  the  Mosaic  law,  the  son  gave  pro- 
mise of  holding  it  yet  more  loosely.  Extensively  as 
virtual  infidelity  is  eating  into  the  core  of  professing  Chris- 
tianity among  us,  it  pervades  no  less  deeply  the  mass  of 
the  Jewish  people  at  this  day. 

Among  other  things,  the  name  of  Nathan  had  been 
wholly  dropped  by  the  younger  Cohen,  and  that  of  Alex- 
ander, the  surname  of  a  Hebrew  connexion,  which  had 


8  judah's  lion. 

been  given  him,  was  shortened  into  Alick,  and  thus  assist- 
ed to  Gentillze  him.  But  in  one  respect  he  was  found 
inveterately  Isiaelitish,  for  the  contour  of  his  face,  its  olive 
tint,  brightened  into  richness  by  the  glow  of  health  and 
animation,  the  jet  black  of  his  sparkling  eyes  and  hair,  all 
proclaimed  what  his  manners,  his  education,  his  habits 
declined  to  confirm,  that  Alick  Cohen  was  decidedly  a  Jew. 

Idle,  volatile,  and  self-willed,  he  had  loitered  in  his 
studies:  and  now,  at  eighteen,  having  just  been  emanci- 
pated from  the  hands  of  a  private  tutor,  engaged  to  finish 
what  the  school  had  failed  in,  it  rather  puzzled  his  father 
what  step  to  take  next.  A  German  university  was  decid- 
ed on  ;  but  circumstances,  wherein  pleasure  and  profit 
were  equally  concerned,  led  Mr.  Cohen  to  plan  a  tour  in 
the  East,  where  a  wide  field  for  commercial  speculation 
had  opened  to  him.  Alick  found  no  diiEculty  in  obtain- 
ing permission  to  accompany  him  ;  and  this  gave  rise  to 
the  expression  of  envy  from  Esther,  who  regarded  as  most 
desirable  that  part  of  her  cousin's  anticipated  gratifications 
which  he  himself  scarcely  even  numbered  among  them. 

The  evening  before  their  departure  Alick  went  to  pass 
an  hour  with  a  neighboring  family,  where  he  found  two 
or  three  other  guests  assembled  :  his  proposed  route  being 
alluded  to,  a  young  lady,  whose  enthusiasm  appeared 
greatly  roused  by  the  subject,  asked  him  if  he  expected 
to  visit  Jerusalem  and  the  surrounding  spots,  and  on  his 
replying  in  the  affirmative,  entreated  him  to  bring  her 
some  relic  from  those  hallowed  places;  on  which  another 
remarked,  '  You  had  better  ask  for  a  sprig  from  one  of  the 
ancient  cedars  of  Lebanon ;'  and  Alick,  ever  ready  to 
oblige,  promised  to  bring  home  a  choice  specimen  of 
those  venerable  trees.  When  he  related  this  to  Esther 
at  home,  to  his  surprise,  she  burst  into  tears,  exclaiming, 
'Do  not,  Alick,   rob   our  glorious  mountain  of  its  few 


judah's  lion. 


surviving  honors,  to  indulge  the  childish  fancy  of  a  vain 

Gentile  !' 

'  You  are  an  odd  girl,  Esther ;  what  can  be  the  harm 

of  taking  a  leaf  or  two  out  of  a  cluster  of  crazy  old  trees  %' 
'  Well,  I  shall  not  dispute  the  matter  with  you.  Ne- 
vertheless, Alick,  I  shall  pray  to  the  God  of  Abraham  that 
before  you  reach  that  spot  you  may  have  learned  to 
shrink  from  the  sacrilege  you  now  speak  of  so  lightly.' 

But  there  was  another  in  that  house  besides  Esther, 
supplicating  the  God  of  Abraham  on  the  youth's  behalf, 
and  with  a  better  knowledge  both  of  whom  she  addressed 
and  of  what  she  asked.  This  was  an  old  Christian  ser- 
vant, truly  a  Christian,  who  for  her  fidelity  had  been  long 
installed  in  a  sort  of  demi-official  character,  an  office 
created  for  her  in  Mr.  Cohen's  household,  as  overlooker 
of  the  linen  department,  and  superintendent  of  all  packing, 
unpacking,  and  similar  operations,  in  which  she  con- 
ceived herself  profoundly  skilled.  She  was  a  simple 
creature,  without  a  particle  of  this  world's  learning  or 
wisdom,  held  in  some  disdain  by  the  modern  domestics  for 
the  unsophisticated  homeliness  of  her  ways  and  apparel, 
but  by  her  harmlessness,  good-humor  and  obliging  dispo- 
sition, overcoming  all  prejudice.  She  could  not  even 
read  :  for  having  neglected  to  acquire  the  accomplish- 
ment in  her  youth,  nothing  could  persuade  Sasan  it  was 
attainable  in  declining  years,  though  Alick  had  frequently 
offered  to  stake  his  best  playthings  on  his  success  in 
teaching,  if  Susan  would  become  his  pupil.  'No,  no, 
master  Alick,'  she  would  reply,  '  I'm  too  old  to  learn  ; 
and  what  need  of  it  while  you  are  so  good  as  to  read  me 
a  scrap  of  news  out  of  the  paper,  and  Miss  Esther  a  fine 
tale  out  of  a  story-book  1  It  ill  becomes  the  likes  of  me 
to  set  up  for  a  scholar  in  my  old  age.' 

Latterly,   however,  a  great  change  had  passed  on  Su- 
2* 


10  judah's  lion. 

san's  tastes  and  feelings.  The  gospel  was  introduced  into 
the  parish  pulpit  by  a  new  minister  ;  she  heard,  believed, 
and  in  the  midst  of  her  simplicity  and  ignorance,  became 
wise  unto  salvation.  Newspapers  and  story-books  lost 
their  charm:  she  preferred  to  feast  her  mind  on  what  she 
could  remember  of  the  last  sabbath's  scripture  and  ser- 
mons ;  but  it  was  only  within  a  week  or  two  that  her 
warm  interest  had  been  excited  on  behalf  of  the  family  she 
loved  so  well  and  served  so  truly. 

A  sermon  had  been  preached  for  the  Jews'  Society,  and 
Susan,  with  awe-struck  wonder,  heard  for  the  first  time  of 
the  privileges,  the  sins,  the  chastisements,  the  hopes  of 
Israel.  Her  whole  soul  became  wrapt  up  in  the  one  anx- 
ious desire  to  see  her  master's  household  converted  to 
Christ ;  and  Alick,  as  he  had  ever  been  her  chief  favorite, 
now  stood  foremost  in  her  hopes  and  prayers.  The  sud- 
den tidings  of  his  intended  voyage,  which  to  her  simple 
apprehension  was  a  stupendous  undertaking,  beset  with 
perils  innumerable,  sent  her  in  dismay  to  the  minister, 
who  calmed  her  fears  and  soothed  her  anxiety  by  putting 
up  a  ver}'  fervent  supplication  for  the  young  Jew. 

When  Alick  came  to  her  for  the  double  purpose  of  as- 
certaining the  state  of  his  packages,  and  bidding  a  kind 
farewell,  he  was  touched  by  the  trembling  earnestness  of 
her  injunctions  to  avoid  all  danger,  and  to  keep  away 
from  all  bad  companions.  '  Oh,  never  fear,  Suke,'  re- 
plied he,  '  I  know  better  than  to  risk  my  precious  neck 
without  cause ;  and  as  for  bad  company,  I  shall  not  dis- 
grace my  family  by  mixing  with  people  beneath  me.' 

Fain  would  she  have  pointed  to  a  higher  and  purer 
motive,  but  she  had  never  yet  ventured  upon  any  dis- 
course of  the  kind  with  her  master's  family ;  and  before 
she  could  muster  resolution  he  was  called  away.  '  Good 
bye,  Susan  ;  take  care  of  your  old  bones,  that  I  may  find 


judah's  lion.  11 

them  safe  and  snug  in  their  comfortable  case  when  I  re- 
turn.' He  held  out  his  hand  ;  the  faithful  creature  clasp- 
ed it  between  her's,  and  her  feelings  broke  forth  in  a  scrip- 
tural phrase,  quoted  in  the  minister's  prayer  for  him,  and 
which  she  had  often  since  repeated  in  her  own,  '  The 
God  of  his  father  Abraham,  the  Angel  that  delivered  Ja- 
cob from  all  evil,  bless  the  lad !'  Alick  looked  at  her 
with  some  surprise  ;  but  he  only  said,  '  Thank  ye,  Susan  ; 
I  hope  he  will,'  and  bounded  away. 

The  person  who  had  called  him  was  his  cousin  Esther. 
Discouraged  in  her  exclusive  feelings  by  those  around 
her,  and  particularly  shy  of  provoking  Alick's  bantering 
drollery,  she  had  repressed  many  a  rising  exhortation 
where  she  deemed  it  greatly  needed  ;  but  now  that  he  was 
on  the  very  eve  of  departing  on  such  a  pilgrimage,  she 
resolved  to  discharge  her  conscience,  and  to  set  before  him 
his  duty.  Accordingly  she  began  by  inquiring  if  he 
could  really  proceed  on  a  journey  to  Jerusalem  with  no 
greater  emotion  than  if  he  were  going  to  Paris  or  to 
Berlin  1 

'  Why,  no;  I  don't  say  that,  Esther.  Without  bring- 
ing up  useless  distinctions  in  the  way  you  do,  one  must 
feel  something  in  going  for  the  first  time  to  visit  what  is 
certainly  the  land  of  his  fathers,  though  it  is  not  his  own.' 

'  Not  his  own,  Alick  Cohen  1  Who  shall  dare  to  say 
of  that  land  that  it  is  not  at  this  moment  the  property  of 
every  Hebrew  on  the  face  of  the  earth  V 

'  A  very  unprofitable  property,  coz.  For  any  good  it 
yields  me,  or  any  business  I  have  with  it,  I  might  just  as 
well  point  to  Sir  John's  park  yonder,  and  call  it  mine.' 

'  If  Coleby  Park  had  belonged  to  your  ancestors  from 
time  immemorial,  and  was  entailed  on  you,  the  sole  heir, 
and  had  been  forcibly  taken  possession  of  by  a  gang  of 


12  judah's  lion. 

robbers,  who  held  it  by  mere  strength  of  arm,  defying 
both  law  and  justice,  would  you  not  still  call  it  yours  V 

'  Ay,  and  soon  get  it  out  of  their  rascally  clutches,  I'll 
■warrant  you.  But  your  simile  does  not  hold  good  ;  for 
the  property  you  speak  of,  yonder  in  the  East,  has  cer- 
tainly been  made  over  by  the  Great  Proprietor  above  to 
other  tenants.' 

'  Alas,  alas  !'  said  Esther,  '  it  is  too  true.  Our  sins 
have  forfeited  the  possession,  and  we  shall  never,  never 
regain  it  while  remaining  thus  careless,  impenitent,  har- 
dened under  the  Divine  rebuke.'  Then  suddenly  fixing 
on  him  her  eyes,  which  she  had  before  shaded  with  her 
clasped  hands,  she  sternly  added,  '  It  is  such  as  you  who 
stand  between  the  tribes  and  their  inheritance  !  The  very 
temple  of  Mount  Zion,  in  all  the  magnificence  of  ita 
glory,  would  not  outweigh  with  you  the  glitter  and  the 
pride  of  a  little  wealth,  display  and  power,  in  the  midst 
of  an  infidel  nation.' 

Alick  was  roused  ;  he  darted  back  a  look  equally  proud 
and  angry  as  her  own,  but  his  eye  presently  fell  beneath 
the  lofty  scorn  of  her's  ;  and  with  a  short  laugh  he  care- 
lessly remarked,  '  One  must  not  be  too  severe  with  a 
pretty  girl  when  she  gets  into  "Ercles'  vein,"  by  way  of 
variety.' 

'  No,  cousin  Alick,  I  do  not  vary,  and  you  know  it. 
My  feeling,  however,  suppressed  out  of  deference  to  those 
above  me,  is  always  the  same.  A  daughter  of  Jerusalem 
by  right,  I  never  will  forego  the  lofty  privileges  of  that 
character,  though  the  loftiest  of  them  now  be  that  of 
weeping  over  the  ruins  of  Jerusalem,  the  desolation,  the 
degradation  of  her  degenerate  sons.'  She  turned  away  in 
tears :  then  again  facing  him  said,  with  greater  animation, 
'  You  will  have  a  new  character  to  sustain  ;  hitherto  you 
have  lived  in  a  charmed  circle,  where  a  golden  talisman 


judah's  lion.  13 

secures  you  from  all  that  you  must  shortly  expect  to  en- 
counter. Unless  with  the  honorable  name  of  Nathan  you 
mean  to  drop  and  wholly  to  deny  your  blood  and  lineage, 
you  will  yet  find  yourself  reviled,  taunted,  thrust  out, 
trampled  upon,  in  the  character  of  a  despised  Jew.' 

Coloring  with  anger,  the  youth  haughtily  replied, 
*  Jew  or  Gentile,  no   living   man  shall   dare  to  despise 

me.' 

Esther  shook  her  head  compassionately,  '  Ah,  so  you 

think,  but  time  will  undeceive  you.  Apostasy  alone  can 
save  you  from  your  share  of  the  national  curse — the 
scorn  of  the  Gentile  ;  and  I  don't  think,  Alick,  I  don't 
think,'  she  deliberately  repeated,  '  that  you  are  yet  pre- 
pared to  stamp  that  open  brow  with  the  foul  brand  of  a 
cowardly  apostate.' 

The  youth  was  excessively  provoked ;  but  affecting  a 
louder  laugh  than  before,  he  apologized  for  not  having 
time  to  answer  her  pleasantry,  and  left  her  with  apparent 
good-humor.  Esther  almost  regretted  having  pursued  so 
rough  a  course,  when  a  little  management  might  have 
led  to  better  results ;  but  it  was  past,  and  no  oppor- 
tunity presented  itself  of  repairing  the  mischief.  A  brief 
good-bye  was  all  she  could  interchange  with  Alick,  before 
he  started  with  his  father  for  the  port  whence  they  were 
to  sail,  in  a  ship  of  the  line,  for  the  Mediterranean. 


CHAPTER    IL 


Adverse  winds  detained  the  ship  for  some  days  in  the 
Channel  J  after  which  they  coasted  leisurely  westward, 
the  captain  having  to  communicate  with  the  Admiral  at 
Cove.  Everything  in  the  shape  of  delay  was  agreeable 
to  Alick,  who  found  in  the  sea  an  element  so  delightful, 
and  in  the  sprightly  young  middies  associates  so  congenial 
to  him,  that  an  order  to  circumnavigate  the  globe  in  that 
company  would  have  been  welcome.  Mr.  Cohen,  who 
suffered  greatly  from  sickness,  had  not  even  made  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  captain's  table  j  but  Alick,  a  general 
favorite,  had  already  experienced  the  hospitality  of  all 
the  messes  ;  among  which  he  certainly  preferred  the  gun- 
room, where,  at  a  slip  of  table  thirty  feet  long,  assembled 
the  gallant  array  of  midshipmen,  varying  in  years  from 
fourteen  to  more  than  twice  that  age,  a  schoolmaster,  two 
assistant-surgeons,  and  very  frequently  a  warrant-officer 
as  guest.  The  early  dinner-hour  of  noon  allowed  Alick 
to  accept  the  almost  daily  invitations  as  to  a  lunch,  though 
the  abundance  of  choice  viands  served  up  usually  tempted 
him  to  make  it  a  full  meal;  and  his  keen  perception  of 
character  ensured  him  endless  amusement  among  such 
society. 

Alick  Cohen  had  never  loved  study,  so  far  as  books 


judah's  lion.  15 

Were  concerned ;  but  he  was  naturally  of  an  inquiring 
turn,  and  impressed  not  only  vividly  but  deeply  with 
whatever  was  presented  to  him  through  the  medium  of 
common  occurrence  or  conversation.  Far  from  being 
deficient  either  in  sense  or  talent,  his  mind  had  remained 
comparatively  inert,  more  for  lack  of  any  suitable  stimu- 
lant to  force  it  into  action  than  from  indolence.  At  home 
he  had  known  no  wish  that  could  not  be  gratified  by 
touching  a  bell-rope  j  and  at  school  a  well-filled  purse 
wrought  its  wonted  effects.  The  society  wherein  he  had 
moved  was  of  that  polish  which  wears  away,  from  the 
surface  at  least,  all  irregularities  of  character ;  and  thus  he 
had  been  becalmed  on  the  smooth  waters  of  a  rich  citi- 
zen's life,  long  enough  to  render  the  present  contrast 
enchanting. 

Some  of  his  young  friends  in  the  gun-room  were  highly 
bred ;  a  title,  more  than  one  Honorable,  and  several  of 
his  own  class,  ranked  among  them ;  but  though  some 
affected  the  fine  gentleman,  and  strove  against  the  in- 
fection of  their  comrades'  blunt  hilarity,  they  could  not 
succeed  in  chilling  the  genial  atmosphere  around  them ; 
more  particularly  as  such  attempts  were  pointedly  put 
down  by  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant,  two  disciplina- 
rians of  the  old  school,  and  still  more  effectually  checked 
by  an  individual  of  subordinate  rank  ;  but  who,  perhaps, 
possessed  more  real  influence  among  the  middies  than  any 
other  man  on  board. 

This  was  the  gunner,  a  fine  old  seaman,  who  had  risen 
by  sterling  merit  to  that  important  post,  and  whose 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession,  peculiar  aptitude 
for  communicating  it,  and  unbounded  kindness  in  afford- 
ing valuable  information,  had  rendered  him  an  oracle 
among  the  inexperienced  officers.  He  was  rough  and 
unceremonious,   but  never  harsh   or  rude.     His  broad, 


16  judah's  lion. 

honest  face  beamed  with  intelligence,  benevolence,  and 
manly  decision,  while  his  quick  eye  seemed  formed  at 
once  to  detect  and  to  reprove  anything  reprehensible. 
Alick  took  great  note  of  him,  seldom  losing  a  remark  that 
he  uttered  ;  for  in  his  heart  he  had  already  resolved  by 
some  means  to  enter  the  service  ;  and  the  information 
that  any  attentive  listener  might  derive  from  Gordon's 
general  discourse  on  nautical  subjects  was  likely  to  prove 
of  material  use.  The  grand  feature,  however,  in  the 
gunner's  character  he  did  not  comprehend,  for  Gordon 
was  spiritually-minded  j  a  true,  firm,  and  consistent  be- 
liever. 

The  senior  midshipman,  a  disappointed  and  discon- 
tented man,  openly  broached  infidel  principles,  in  which 
he  was  covertly  supported  by  one  of  the  assistant-sur- 
geons, who  prudently  refrained  from  committing  himself 
directly  on  that  point.  The  schoolmaster,  well  read  in 
Paley's  Evidences,  and  armed  with  such  Christianity  as 
man  may  learn  from  man,  constantly  met  and  repelled 
all  serious  assaults  on  revealed  religion ;  but  allowed  the 
sneer,  the  laugh,  the  banter,  to  pass  unheeded.  Gordon, 
whose  constant  care  it  was  to  uphold  the  relative  author- 
ity of  each  officer  in  the  ship,  refrained  from  interposing 
when  the  schoolmaster  came  forward  ;  but  many  a  rebuke 
did  he  administer  on  occasions  when,  but  for  him,  the 
ground  would  have  been  undefended.  Sharpe,  the  in- 
fidel, was  much  disliked  by  his  comrades,  who  relished 
seeing  him  wincing  under  Gordon's  lash  ;  and  what  be- 
tween well-merited  love  and  salutary  dread  of  the  old 
gunner,  the  latter  enjoyed  an  exemption  from  those  petty 
persecutions  which  too  often  are  the  lot  of  a  Christian  in 
his  situation. 

Alick's  Hebrew  origin  had  not  been  surmised.  In  the 
little  billets  occasionally  handed  to  him  he  was  usually 


judah's  lion.  17 

addressed  as  '  Coane,'  and  he  himself  bestowed  no  thought 
on  the  matter.  It  happened  as  they  were  beating  off 
the  Cove  of  Cork  that  he  strolled  into  the  gun-room  with 
one  of  his  young  friends,  just  as  the  debate  was  running 
high  between  Mr.  Sharpe  and  the  schoolmaster.  The 
former,  it  seemed,  had  denounced  the  whole  Bible  as  a 
tissue  of  falsehood  and  folly  ;  while  the  latter  was,  with 
more  earnestness  than  usual,  upholding  its  divine  author- 
ity. A  group  of  middies  surrounded  the  combatants,  of 
whom  one  was  drawing  a  caricature  sketch,  while  Gordon 
was  delighting  a  mere  child,  just  entered  as  a  midship- 
man, by  superintending  the  carving  of  a  ship's  hull  with 
his  penknife.  Alick  took  his  station  in  the  midst  of  the 
listeners. 

'  All  that  you  have  said  is  vastly  fine,  Mr,  Cowper,' 
said  Sharpe,  'but  it  amounts  to  just  this;  certain  predic- 
tions appear  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  their  fulfilment  is 
recorded  in  the  New ;  so  you  make  the  two  parcels  of 
the  Bible  reciprocally  prove  each  other ;  whereas  I  take 
leave  to  regard  them  both  as  parts  of  one  great  forgery, 
framed  so  as  to  support  one  another's  pretences.' 

'  Setting  the  New  Testament  aside  altogether,'  replied 
the  other,  'I  refer  you  to  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy  in 
the  nations  around  us.' 

'  Of  which  a  great  deal  took  place  before  the  pro- 
phecies were  written,'  said  Sharpe,  contemptuously,  '  and 
the  rest  would  have  come  to  pass  in  the  natural  course  of 
events,  even  had  they  not  been  so  shrewdly  guessed  at, 
and,  as  you  called  it,  foretold.' 

'  Impossible  !'  said  Cowper,  '  no  human  sagacity  could 
have  foreseen  the  occurrences  that  have  fallen  out,  ex- 
actly as  foreshown  in  the  pages  of  inspiration.     But  leav- 
ing all  others,  I  will  take  up  one  point  alone  ;  what  think 
3 


18  judah's  lton. 

you,  sir,  of  that  universal  problem,  the  outcast,  miserable, 
degraded  Jews  V 

'  Why,  I  think  them  a  pack  of  very  great  vagabonds,' 
answered  Mr.  Sharpe. 

'  Undoubtedly  they  are  ;  the  very  offscourings  of  the 
world,  a  by- word,  a  hissing,  a  scorn,  and  a  reproach  j  but 
was  not  this  foretold  V 

'  Yes,  and  in  the  same  way  I  could  sit  down  and 
write  a  prophecy  that  Poland  should  be  dismembered  by 
the  Russians.' 

'  Well,  sir,  but  supposing  the  Bible  to  be  ever  so  modern 
a  book  as  you  fancy  it,  only  a  few  centuries  old,  still  I 
maintain  that  the  lapse  of  those  few  centuries  was  suffi- 
cient, nay  certain,  in  the  common  course  of  events,  to 
have  obliterated  all  natural  trace  of  such  an  outcast  race, 
amalgamating  them  with  the  various  people  of  the  earth, 
or  exterminating  them  altogether  by  the  many  and  severe 
persecutions  that  they  have  undergone.  Instead  of  which, 
you  find  no  country  under  heaven  without  a  Jew,  bearing 
the  brand  of  his  crime,  the  curse  of  God,  and  the  uni- 
versal contempt  of  his  fellow-creatures.' 

'  Look  at  Sharpe,  how  he  is  posed  and  caught,'  whis- 
pered a  middy  to  another  who  was  leaning  on  Alick's 
shoulder. 

'Ay,'  responded  the  other,  'fairly  caught  in  the  bag  of 
an  old-clothes'-man,  and  Jewed  out  of  his  prime  argu- 
ment.' This  excited  a  laugh  among  those  who  heard  it, 
and  a  variety  of  witticisms  were  bandied  about,  all  deriving 
their  point  from  some  malicious  or  contemptuous  allusion 
to  the  Jew. 

Sliarpe  replied,  but  Alick  heeded  not  his  words  :  a 
sensation  of  wrath  and  shame,  such  as  he  had  never  before 
experienced,  thrilled  through  him.  The  latter,  however, 
predominated  for  the  moment ;  he  felt  abashed,  crushed 


judah's  lion.  19 

beneath  a  weight  of  odium  the  more  cruelly  bitter  because 
it  was  wholly  free  from  any  personal  allusion.  All  the 
epithets  of  scorn  bestowed  on  his  people,  and  which  seem- 
ed to  be  generally  admitted  by  those  who  heard  them  as 
words  of  course,  belonged  to  himself  as  one  of  that  de- 
spised nation  ;  and  he  felt  that,  as  a  Jew,  he  must  rank  in 
the  estimation  of  companions  who  now  considered  him 
fully  their  equal,  as  inferior  to  the  least — ay,  probably,  to 
the  sailors  before  the  mast.  The  feeling  that  overwhelmed 
the  young  Israelite  was  that  'sorrow  of  heart'  peculiar 
to  those  on  whom  it  falls  as  a  stroke  from  above.  He 
smothered  it  in  his  own  bosom,  and  gladly  followed  one  of 
the  young  men  who,  tired  of  listening  to  a  subject  that 
did  not  interest  him,  went  on  deck. 

When  Alick  withdrew  to  his  berth  for  the  night,  and 
found  himself  alone,  he  strove  to  avoid  all  unpleasant 
recollections  ;  or  rather  to  banish  their  recurrence  after 
being  pretty  well  stifled  in  the  mirth  of  an  evening  party. 
Despite  all  efforts,  his  thoughts  fell  into  that  train,  and  a 
new  sentiment  sprang  up  in  his  mind,  from  which  it  had 
hitherto  been  wholly  free — dislike  to  Christians.  '  It  was 
to  prove  the  truth  of  his  own  religion  that  he  dared  to 
speak  so  insultingly  of  us,'  thought  Alick,  as  he  recalled 
the  purport  of  Mr.  Cowper's  argument  ;  'and  though 
those  officers  care  little  enough  about  it  in  general  things, 
yet  being  Christians,  they  all  joined  in  joking  and  jeering 
at  the  Jews.  Oh,  how  mad  Esther  would  have  been  ! ' 
and  he  could  not  forbear  smiling,  as  the  remembrance  of 
their  last  discussion  mingled  with  the  picture  that  his 
fancy  drew  of  her  presence  in  the  gun-room.  Sleep  soon 
terminated  his  cogitations,  and  at  early  morning  the  bustle 
of  casting  anchor  in  the  fine  harbor  of  Cork  obliterated 
every  unpleasant  recollection. 

But  Alick  was  not  to  remain  long  in  this  untroubled 


20  judah's  lion. 

state  :  the  captain  had  manned  his  gig,  and  gone  off  to 
the  flag-ship,  and  the  usual  laxity  of  discipline  connived 
at  in  port  gave  admission  to  many  strangers.  One  of  the 
middies,  a  mischievous  lad  of  sixteen,  who  had  been  peer- 
ing into  the  numerous  boats  that  surrounded  the  vessel, 
and  descried  in  one  of  them  an  object  likely  to  afford  him 
some  sport,  approached  the  schoolmaster,  then  leaning  on 
a  gun-carriage,  explaining  some  local  phenomena  to  a 
party  of  listeners,  among  whom  was  Alick,  and  said, 
'  Here,  sir,  I  have  brought  you  a  choice  addition  to  your 
stock  of  evidences  :  you  had  better  keep  him  to  produce 
on  your  next  discussion  with  Sharpe ; '  and  he  pushed 
forward  a  most  squalid  little  object,  of  unquestionably 
Jewish  aspect,  with  a  shaggy  grey  beard,  ragged  clothing, 
and  a  net  of  oranges  in  each  hand.  A  shout  of  laughter 
welcomed  the  visitor,  who  seemed  perfectly  at  his  ease  ; 
and  one  said,  'Weil,  my  little  Moshesh,  vat  ish  your 
bishnesh  here  1 ' 

Sharpe,  just  then  passing,  paused,  joined  in  the  laugh, 
and  asked  with  a  sneer,  'Which  of  your  prophets  prophe- 
sied of  him,  Mr.  Covvper "? ' 

The  Jew's  brow  contracted  :  he  evidently  felt  the 
insult,  but  instead  of  noticing  it,  held  up  his  nets,  pro- 
claiming the  cheapness  of  his  fruits. 

'  Confess  you  stole  them,  Moshesh,'  said  one. 

'I  did  not,  upon  ray  conscience,  sir,'  answered  the 
man. 

'  Conscience  !  a  Jew's  conscience !  what  a  notable 
thing  to  swear  by,'  shouted  another.  Alick's  blood  was 
beginning  to  boil  :  he  looked  round,  as  if  to  single  out 
some  object  for  a  burst  of  resentment,  when  the  Gunner 
approaching,  said,  'By  your  leave,  gentlemen,  as  nobody 
seems  disposed  to  buy,  I  will  stow  away  the  Jew's  cargo. 
Well,  my  friend,  what  are  your  terms  1 ' 


JUDAIl's   LION.  21 

The  nets  were  presently  emptied,  and  Gordon  resumed, 
'  From  what  part  of  the  world  do  you  come  ]  ' 

'  From  Plymouth,  sir :  very  few  of  our  people  visit 
Ireland,  and  I  am  here  but  for  a  short  time.' 

'  I  wonder  at  that :  it  is  well  known  Ireland  is  the  only 
country  that  never  persecuted  your  race.' 

'  They  had  not  the  opportunity,'  said  the  Jew  with  a 
half  grin,  'for  we  have  not  dwelt  among  them.' 

'Aye,  but  what  kept  you  away  1  The  poverty  of  the 
country  you  will  say  perhaps.'  The  Jew  nodded.  '  Then 
poverty  has  been  a  great  blessing  there,'  continued  Gor- 
don, pointing  to  the  land,  '  since  it  was  the  means  of  pre- 
serving at  least  one  nation  from  the  deep  curse  of  afflicting 
_  God's  ancient  people-' 

He  spoke  the  word  '  curse'  with  such  a  deliberate  empha- 
sis, and  accompanied  it  with  so  keen  a  glance  round  him, 
that  no  one  could  avoid  noticing  it. 

'  Nay,'  said  the  schoolmaster,  '  I  am  no  apologist  for 
persecution  ;  far  from  it ;  it  is  the  feature  of  a  barbarous 
age,  and  wholly  unsuited  to  these  enlightened  times. 
Still,  as  the  Jews  are  certainly  accursed  by  the  word  of 
the  Almighty,  I  don't  see  any  particular  sin  in  giving 
them  their  share  in  the  troubles  of  a  troublous  age.' 

The  Gunner  never  contradicted  Mr.  Cowper  in  public  ; 
he,  therefore,  only  said,  '  I  noticed  it,  sir,  as  a  matter  of 
thankfulness  to  the  Irish  people  ;  because,  though  many 
nations  were  allowed,  in  old  time,  to  oppress  the  Jews 
for  their  disobedience,  yet  all  those  who  afflicted  them 
were  heavily  judged.' 

'  Aye,  but  that  was  before  their  last  unpardonable  sin 
of  crucifying  our  Savior.' 

'  I  cannot  see,  sir,  that  even  that  fearful  sin  is  unpar- 
donable ;  for  Paul  the  apostle,who  was  himself  a  persecut- 
ing, blasphemous  Jew,  bears  witness ;  "  And  they  also,  if 
3* 


22  J'UDjiH  S    LIOK. 

they  abide  not  in  unbelief,  shall  be  grafFed  in :  for  God  is 
able  to  grafFthem  in  again."  ' 

'  Of  course,  individuals  are  sometimes  converted  ;  or 
at  least  profess  to  be  so.  Some  people,  indeed,  doubt 
"whether  a  real  conversion  from  Judaism  ever  takes  place.' 

'  It  never  does,'  muttered  the  orange-merchant  in  a  bit- 
ter tone. 

'  No  V  exclaimed  Gordon,  fixing  on  him  one  of  his  most 
reproving  looks.  '  Is  then  the  race  of  Abraham  fallen  low- 
enough  to  practise  such  base  hypocrisy — to  acknowledge 
as  God  one  whom  they  still  believe  to  have  been  a  con- 
demned and  executed  malefactor  V 

The  Jew  hung  his  head ;  and  one  of  the  middies, 
throwing  himself  into  an  attitude,  theatrically  exclaimed, 

'  No"W,  infidel,  I  have  thee  on  the  hip !' 

Other  quotations  were  also  applied,  in  a  jesting  rather 
than  an  ill-natured  spirit ;  and  the  schoolmaster  remarked, 
'  All  this  only  shows  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy,  and  tri- 
umphantly establishes  my  proof  of  the  divine  inspiration 
of  the  Bible.' 

'  It  does,  Mr.  Cowper,'  answered  the  Gunner,  who  ap- 
peared not  a  little  moved  at  the  scene  before  him  ;  '  and 
blessed  be  God!  it  proves  still  more:  for  if  the  threateninss 
are  thus  accomplished  to  the  very  letter,  as  we  see  they 
are,  so  shall  the  promises  be.  He  who  has  said,  "  This 
people  have  I  formed  for  myself,  and  they  shall  show 
forth  my  praise,"  will  yet  be  glorified  in  them  before  the 
face  of  all  nations.  "  For  the  Lord  will  have  mercy  on 
Jacob,  and  will  yet  choose  Israel,  and  will  set  them  in  their 
own  land."'  "  irie  shall  cause  them  that  come  of  Jacob  to 
take  root ;  Israel  shall  blossom  and  bud,  and  fill  the  face  of 
the  world  with  fruit."  ' 

'  So,  then,  you  are  one  of  those  sanguine  people  who 


judah's  lion,  23 

expect  to  see  the  Jews  restored  to  Palestine  V  said  the 
schoolmaster,  smiling. 

'  I  hope  I  am  one  of  those  believing  people  who  dare 
not  doubt  that  what  the  Lord  hath  spoken  he  will  surely 
bring  to  pass.  I  heard  your  argument,  sir,  yesterday  with 
Mr.  Sharpe,  and  what  you  said  could  not  be  overthrown  ; 
but  while  you  rested  on  that  point,  the  present  degraded 
state  of  Israel,  lying  under  the  curse,  I  looked  forward  to 
the  closing  of  their  day  of  calamity,  and  thought  upon 
the  promise,  "  All  nations  shall  call  you  blessed ;  for  ye 
shall  be  a  delightsome  land,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  I 
can't  despise  a  Jew,  gentlemen,'  he  added,  looking  round 
him  ;  '  I  can't  add  the  weight  of  my  finger  to  the  burden 
that  God  has  laid  on  him.  I  know  he  is  a  standing  mira- 
cle  of  judgment,  and  I  know,  too,  that  he  will,  at  least  na- 
tionally, be  a  standing  miracle  of  mercy.  He  is  a  branch 
of  the  olive-tree,  broken  off  through  unbelief;  but  I  am 
commanded,  "  Boast  not  thyself  against  the  branches." 
Gentile  as  I  am,  I  look  upon  a  son  of  Abraham  with  re- 
spect ;  aye,'  he  added,  raising  his  voice,  as  he  saw  some  of 
the  youths  glance  laughingly  at  the  ragged  Jew,  upon 
whose  shoulder  he  at  the  same  moment  laid  his  hand,  'Aye, 
sirs,  1  look  upon  this  poor  man  with  a  respect  due  to  a 
race  whom  God  chose,  and  blessed,  and  distinguished 
among  all  people — a  race  that,  say  what  you  will,  are  the 

aristocracy  of  the  earth  ;  who,' here  a  loud  call  was 

heard  for  the  Gunner  ;  and  he  hastened  away. 

'  Well,  now,'  said  a  good-humored  lad,  who  had  check- 
ed a  laugh  on  hearing  the  earnest  tone  of  Gordon,  'well, 
now,  let's  do  something  to  keep  up  the  external  credit  of 
the  aristocracy.  Who'll  add  another  to  this  V  holding  up 
a  half-crown,  '  to  purchase  a  better  coat  for  this  sprig  of 
nobility  ?' 

Several  responded  to  the  call ;  and  a  good  handful  of 


24  JUDAH  S    LIONi 

silver  was  presently  collected  in  the  hat  of  the  young 
man, who  held  it  last  to  Alick,  shaking  its  contents,  and  say- 
ing, '  Come,  Coane,  give  us  a  specimen  of  Gentile  gene- 
rosity.' 

'  That  I  cannot  do,'  answered  Alick,  as  with  cheeks  of 
the  deepest  crimson,  and  swelling  veins,  he  added  a  piece 
of  gold  to  the  collection  :  '  I  am  no  Gentile,  but  a  Jew : 
my  name  is  not  Coane,  but  Nathan  Cohen ;  and  what 
from  you  is  generosity  is  simple  justice  from  me.' 

He  turned  avv'ay  immediately,  half  glad,  half  regretful 
that  the  confession  had  been  made  under  circumstances  so 
peculiar.  It  was,  in  truth,  a  burst  of  nationality  that  sur- 
prised himself  when  he  reflected  upon  it.  'It  is  as  well, 
though,'  thought  he  ;  '  for  they  would  have  gone  on  snarl- 
ing at  our  people  till  som.e  accident  betrayed  what  neither 
my  father  nor  I  ever  dreamed  of  concealing,  and  then  they 
would  have  remembered  their  impertinent  speeches,  and 
nothing  but  quarrels  could  ensue.  As  it  is,  I've  shown 
them  that  I  am  neither  ashamed  nor  afraid  to  speak  out: 
and  I  suppose  good  manners  will  keep  them  silent  for  the 
future.  But  why  was  I  born  a  Jew  V  he  continued,  as 
mortifying  recollections  crowded  upon  him  :  '  or  why 
should  such  distinctions  be  kept  up  among  Englishmen  1 
I  should  not  mind  turning  Christian  to  get  rid  of  the  stig- 
ma ;  but  then  they  would  call  me  "  a  converted  Jew," 
which  is  worse  still.  And,  after  all,  what  right  has  any- 
body to  despise  us  1  we  are  a  wealthy  race,  and  our  men 
are  as  fine,  our  women  as  handsome  as  the  best  of  them. 
How  such  vulgar  prejudices  can  exist  among  gentlemen,  I 
cannot  conceive ;  at  any  rate,  they  must  now  hold  their 
tongues  in  my  presence.' 

And  so  they  did  ;  the  schoolmaster  assured  the  young 
men  that  it  was  unworthy  the  genius  of  the  nineteenth 
century  to  keep  up  such  antiquated  illiberal  prejudices,  to 


judah's  lion.  25 

which  they  readily  assented  ;  and  while  some  frankly  apolo- 
gized to  Alick  for  the  unintentional  offence  given,  others 
strove  by  redoubled  attention  and  respect  to  do  away  with 
the  remembrance.  Still  the  witlings  could  not  refrain 
from  indulging  tlieir  leading  propensity  at  his  expense ; 
and  he  was  often  vexed  and  irritated  by  casual  discoveries 
of  their  jokes.  In  reference  to  the  Gunner's  expression, 
his  father  was  privately  called  the  Duke :  himself  the 
Marquess  ;  their  little  cabin,  '  Duke's  Palace,'  with  sundry 
other  ludicrous  allusions,  very  annoying  to  a  proud  spirit, 
which  was  apt  to  chafe  at  trifles. 

When  next  Gordon  met  him,  he  touched  his  cap  with 
one  hand,  and  extending  the  other  said,  '  I  honor  you 
greatly,  Mr.  Cohen,  for  the  avowal  you  made  at  such  a 
time  and  in  such  a  way.  I,  for  one,  never  had  an  idea 
of  your  being  a  Hebrew.' 

Alick  shook  heartily  the  offered  hand,  and  thanked  him 
for  supporting  the  character  of  his  people. 

'I  doubt,  young  gentleman,  whether  I  did  that !  I  only 
repeated  God's  promises,  and  declared  my  own  faith  in 
them.  And  may  I  ask,  sir,  whether  you  too  are  looking 
forward  to  the  glorious  things  promised  to  your  race  V 

'  Why,  indeed,  Mr.  Gordon,  I  am  so  thoroughly  the 
Englishman,  that  I  know  of  no  country  preferable  to  that 
in  which  I  was  born — no  distinction  greater  than  the  citi- 
zenship of  her  great  metropolis;  all  the  privileges  of 
which  I  hope  one  day  to  enjoy,  when  Parliament  has  done 
away  with  the  obstacles  that  now  encumber  our  path. 
We  shall  soon  rise  above  the  petty  carpings  that  we  can- 
not now  quite  silence  ;  and  all  these  invidious  distinctions 
will  be  forgotten.' 

The  old  seaman  looked  at  him  with  compassionate  in- 
terest :  he  had  much  to  say,  but  knew  not  how  to  intro- 
duce itj  nor  did  the  time  or  place  allow  of  prolonged  dis- 


26  jtjdah's  lion. 

course.  They  parted,  therefore,  Alick  proceeding  to  the 
quarter-deck,  and  the  Gunner  remarking  to  himself, 
'  What  a  blessing  that  fine  boy  would  become  among  his 
people  if  the  Lord  were  pleased  to  make  him  indeed  a 
Jew!' 

Gordon  was  not  one  of  those  who  imagine  that  a  Jew 
when  Christianized  must  needs  be  Gentilized  also.  He 
had  very  high,  because  very  scriptural,  views  of  the  pe- 
culiar privileges  secured  to  the  children  of  Abraham,  and 
which  he  knew  were  not  annulled  but  confirmed  by  their 
becoming  subjects  of  Messiah's  kingdom.  He  longed  to 
open  the  matter  to  Alick  in  such  a  way  as  to  engage  his 
attention,  with  the  purpose  of  leading  him  to  the  feet  of 
Him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets  did 
write ;  and  he  hoped  that  in  the  course  of  their  voyage 
such  opportunity  would  be  given. 


CHAPTER  III. 


'  There  is  one  thing  that  I  can't  understand,'  said  Alick 
to  a  midshipman,  with  whom  he  was  parading  the  deck, 
'  and  that  is  the  rank  held  by  your  friend  the  Gunner. 
He  seems  to  me  to  belong  to  every  class,  and  yet  to  form 
a  class  by  himself.  Seeing  what  disciplinarians  you  are, 
and  how  rigidly  you  all  observe  the  distinctions  of  rank, 
it  often  puzzles  me  to  see  this  Gordon  an  exception  from 
all  rules.' 

'  You  are  right,'  answered  the  middy.  '  The  Gunner 
is  individualized  among  a  ship's  company :  his  office 
is  very  important,  though  more  akin  to  a  non-commis- 
sioned officer  in  the  army  than  any  other,  and  attained  in 
the  same  way.  He  is  a  picked  seaman  of  courage,  con- 
duct and  experience,  and  so  necessary  to  us  that  we  could 
not  get  on  without  him.  Gordon  would  be  a  regular  cha- 
racter in  any  situation,  but  the  one  he  holds  is  just  made 
for  him :  and  he  is  thoroughly  good-natured.  When  I 
was  but  half  recovered  from  a  sharp  fit  of  illness,  nervous, 
restless,  and  all  that,  he  let  me  go  to  his  cabin,  night  after 
night,  and  read,  talk,  or  hold  my  tongue,  as  the  fancy 
might  be,  by  his  cheerful  lamp,  when  all  the  rest  was 
darkness.' 


28  judah's  lion. 

'  Why,  is  he  exempt  from  the  barbarous  regulation  •£ 
"lights  out"  at  half  past  eight  V 

'  Yes  :  the  Gunner  has  always  leave  to  burn  his  till 

ten.' 

'  Nay,  then,  I  must  make  friends  with  him,'  said  Alick 
— 'for  you  can't  think  how  I  hate  the  extinguishing  sys- 
tem.' 

'  Take  care,  however,  Cohen ;  for  he'll  certainly  make 
a  Methodist  of  you,'  said  the  young  man  smiling ;  and 
then,  as  if  a  sudden  thought  had  flashed  across  his  mind, 
he  blushed,  stammered,  and  hesitatingly  added,  '  I — I  beg 
your  pardon.' 

'  For  what  V  asked  Alick  staring :  '  for  thinking  I  could 
be  made  a  Methodist  of  ?' 

'  No,  no :  only  I  forgot  just  then — I — oh,  by  the  way, 
do  you  know  to-morrow  is  a  royal  birth-day,  and  as  there's 
a  frigate  in  company,  we  shall  treat  you  landsmen  to  a 
little  gunpowder  at  sea.' 

What  could  put  him  so  out  of  countenance  all  on  a 
sudden  %  was  Alick's  mental  inquiry :  and  then  the  con- 
viction struck  him  that  his  being  a  Jew  had  recurred  to 
his  companion's  mind,  in  some  connection  with  the  word 
Methodist :  probably  as  being  alike  terms  of  reproach.  It 
ruffled  him,  and  produced  the  usual  effect  of  an  increased 
feeling  of  estrangement  from  all  around  him.  Meanwhile 
a  very  different  conversation,  of  which  he  was  the  subject, 
was  going  on  ia  another  part  of  the  ship  between  Gordon 
and  an  old  sailor,  no  less  devout  and  zealous  than  himself, 
but  by  no  means  so  partial  to  the  Jewish  cause. 

'  I  can't  see  what  difference  it  makes,'  remarked  Tom 
Miller,  '  his  being  Jew  or  Gentile,  so  long  as  he  is  not  a 
Christian.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  seek  his  conversion, 
and  then,  be  his  birth  and  lineage  what  they  may,  he  be- 


JUDiVH's   LION.  29 

comes  Abraham's  child,  and  an  heir  according  to  promise. 
That's  my  mind,  Gunner.' 

'  In  one  sense,  I  agree  with  you,  Tom  :  as  regards  the 
spiritual  privilege,  we  are  all  equal.  Sinners  alike  by  na- 
ture, lost  and  ruined  j  saved  alike,  wholly  and  entirely  by 
grace — in  which  salvation  there  is  no  difference  put  be- 
tween us,  God  purifying  our  hearts  by  faith.  Children  of 
wrath  together,  lying  under  the  curse,  until  we  receive 
together  the  adoption  of  children,  becoming  equally  heirs 
of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with  Christ.' 

'  Aye  ;  what  a  wonderful  work  is  there  !'  said  the  old 
sailor  :  '  choosing  such  wretches  as  you  and  I,  taking  us 
out  of  the  mire,  from  the  dunghill  of  sin,  and  exalting  us 
among  the  princes.     Glory  be  to  redeeming  grace  !' 

'  Amen,  brother  !  And  now,  having  agreed  in  this,  let 
us  look  a  little  farther,  and  we  shall  see  that  even  in  a  fa- 
mily of  children  where  all  are  to  inherit  property,  there 
is  a  distinction  belonging  to  the  elder,  and  this  I  claim  for 
the  Jew.  You  know  how  Paul,  having  shown  to  the  Ro- 
mans the  universal  sinfulness  of  our  race,  and  that  the  na- 
tional privileges  or  superior  knowledge  of  the  Jew  will  not 
save  him,  puts  the  question,  as  from  one  taking  your  view 
of  the  matter:  "  What  advantage  then  hath  the  Jew,  or 
what  profit  is  there  in  circumcision  1"  and  replies  to  it, 
"  Much  every  way  " — going  on  to  show  that  the  unbelief 
of  individuals  could  not  make  the  promise  of  God  of  none 
effect.  For,  Tom,  they  are  still  beloved  for  the  fathers' 
sakes. ' 

'  You  don't  mean,  any  how,  that  an  unbelieving  Jew 
will  be  saved  for  the  fathers'  sakes  V 

'  No,  Tom,  no.     I  speak  of  Israel  as  a  nation,   now  a 
saplpss  trunk  indeed,  blighted  and   naked,  and  to  all  ap- 
pearance dead  ;  but  for  the  sake  of  the   root,  which  was 
holy  before  God,  he  will  once  more  cause  life  to  circulate, 
4 


30  judah's  lion. 

and  the  old  tree  to  put  forth  leaves  and  branches  yet  again 
— aye,  and  such  branches  too  as  shall  overshadow  the  whole 
earth !' 

'  Well,  I  shan't  argue  with  you,  seeing  I  have  not  half 
your  knowledge,  Mr.  Gordon  5  but  my  poor  prayers  are 
offered  for  yonder  dear  boy,  that  he,  at  any  rate,  may 
grow  up  as  a  young  plant  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord's 
house.' 

It  was  the  peculiar  trial  of  the  good  Gunner  to  meet 
with  very  few,  even  among  enlightened  Christians,  who 
could  enter  into  his  views  respecting  God's  declared  pur- 
pose towards  his  ancient  people.  Those  views  he  perfect- 
ly well  knew  to  be  scriptural ;  but  he  also  knew  that  their 
reception  was  by  no  means  necessary  to  the  spiritual  well- 
being  of  a  believer  j  though  again  he  was  aware  that  to 
overlook  any  plainly  revealed  truth,  cannot  be  well-pleas- 
ing to  Him  who  has  given  us  no  idle  or  unnecessary  words 
to  perplex  us.  He  rather  loved,  when  with  his  fellow- 
Christians,  to  be  building  themselves  up  on  their  most 
holy  faith  in  things  absolutely  essential,  than  to  be  en- 
gaged in  controversy  on  matters  that  were  not  so ;  but 
seeing  how  manifestly  the  reception  of  these  truths  quick- 
ened the  zeal  and  heightened  the  enjoyment  of  such  as 
were  enabled  to  perceive  them,  he  could  not  altogether 
keep  silence.  The  feelings  with  which  he  regarded  the 
interesting  young  Israelite  on  board  were  probably 
strengthened  by  being  pent  up  within  his  bosom,  and  cer= 
tainly  were  prepared  for  an  explosion  on  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. 

The  day  noticed  as  a  royal  birth-day  was  also  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath  5  and  Alick,  who  had  never  witnessed  the 
sight  of  a  ship's  company  assembled  for  divine  service, 
readily  accompanied  the  superior  officers  on  their  round 
of  inspection  at  divisions.     The  clean,  handsome,  healthy 


judah's  lion.  31 

appearance  of  the  men,  their  becoming  deportment,  and 
all  the  beautifully-ordered  arrangements,  down  to  the 
graceful  disposition  of  the  Union  Jack,  throwing  its  thick 
folds  over  the  grog-tub  and  log-board  that  formed  the  pul- 
pit, all  attracted  his  admiration ;  and  he  sat,  a  quiet,  if  not 
an  interested  auditor,  during  the  hour  of  prayers. 

The  first  lesson  for  the  day  was  that  sublime  portion  of. 
Scripture,  the  23d  and  2'ith  chapters  of  Numbers.  It  ar- 
rested his  attention  more  than  once,  by  the  repeated  men- 
tion of  Jacob  and  Israel,  and  the  abundance  of  the  reite- 
rated promises  ;  but  such  was  his  ignorance  of  everything 
connected  with  the  Bible,  that  he  did  not  know  it  formed 
a  part  of  the  ancient  Scriptures,  much  less  that  it  was  the 
writing  of  Moses.  At  one  time  he  caught  the  old  Gun- 
ner's eye  fixed  alternately  upon  the  reader  and  on  him, 
with  such  an  eagerly-animated  expression,  that  it  made 
him  anxious  to  know  what  might  be  the  reason  ;  he  lis- 
tened, and  heard  the  words,  "  God  brought  him  forth  out 
of  Egypt ;  he  hath,  as  it  were,  the  strength  of  a  unicorn  : 
he  shall  eat  up  the  nations,  his  enemies,  and  shall  break 
their  bones,  and  pierce  them  through  with  his  arrows. 
He  couched,  he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as  a  great  lion  : 
who  shall  stir  him  up  '?  Blessed  is  he  that  blesseth  thee, 
and  cursed  is  he  that  curseth  thee." 

The  wind  was  whistling  among  the  sails,  which  in- 
duced the  chaplain,  whose  feelings  did  not  appear  to  be  so 
much  roused  by  what  he  was  reading  as  those  of  some  of 
his  auditors  were,  to  elevate  his  voice  considerably,  while 
uttering  this  passage  ;  and  a  perfect  lull  of  a  few  moments 
occurring  at  the  same  time,  gave  strong  effect  to  the  con- 
cluding words.  Some  who  remembered  the  Gunner's 
expression  a  day  or  two  before,  when  the  poor  Jew  was 
on  board,  could  not  help  stealing  a  look  at  Alick,  who 
was  an  object  of  more  interest,  perhaps,  than  anything 


32  judah's  lion. 

else  among  them.  Service  being  concluded,  a  general 
stir  took  place,  for,  in  honor  of  the  day,  the  royal  stan- 
dard was  to  be  hoisted,  and  saluted  with  twenty-one  guns. 
A  light,  fresh  breeze  was  stirring,  the  sun  shone  bril- 
liantly ;  and  the  sails,  whitened  by  a  morning  shower, 
looked,  as  Alick  remarked,  like  the  plumage  of  a  swan, 
as  the  noble  ship  rolled  gracefully  through  the  w^aves. 
While  gazing  upwards  with  admiration  at  the  beautiful 
contrast  between  a  very  deep  blue  sky  and  the  snowy 
canvas  outspread  to  catch  the  breeze,  he  suddenly  beheld 
what  is  ever  dear  to  the  heart,  and  glorious  in  the  eye  of 
a  Briton,  the  magnificent  standard  of  England,  unfolding 
its  gorgeous  blazonry  in  glowing  contrast  to  both,  and 
casting  a  ruddy  gleam  upon  the  water  beneath.  There 
was  something  in  the  very  act  of  unfurling  this  flag  at 
sea  that,  together  with  the  splendid  effect  produced,  trans- 
ported Alick  to  a  fit  of  enthusiasm.  He  took  off  his  hat, 
and  loudly  cheered  the  flag.  The  first  lieutenant  passing 
at  that  moment,  touched  his  shoulder,  saying  with  a 
smile,  '  A  little  patience,  Mr.  Cohen :  wait  for  the  salute.' 
This  vvas  presently  given :  the  thunder  of  the  guns,  the 
wreathing  of  the  light  blue  smoke,  as  it  rose  and  curled 
away  ;  the  strong  vibration  of  the  ship's  side  against 
which  he  leaned,  and  the  loud,  long,  measured  cadence  of 
three  hearty  cheers,  given  at  the  full  pitch  of  some  seven 
hundred  manly  voices,  altogether  kindled  the  fire  ofAlick's 
pirit,  as  it  had  never  been  kindled  before  :  he  was  in  the 
height  of  that  enjoyment  which  to  a  young  and  ardent 
mind  outweighs  all  that  wealth  and  power  can  bestow. 
He  wanted  but  one  thing — he  longed  to  trace  a  fellow- 
feeling  somewhere,  that  he  might  be  tempted  to  speak  out 
the  delight  which  swelled  his  heart ;  but  he  was  alone  ;  no 
one  just  then  beside  him,  nor  did  anybody  appear  to  be 
at  all  excited  by  what  occasioned  hiin  so  great  emotion. 


judah's  lion.  33 

Again  he  gazed  upon  the  crimson  flag  j  and  presently  was 
greeted  by  the  loud  cheerful  voice  of  Gordon,  abruptly 
exclaiming,  '  Aye,  Mr.  Cohen,  there  floats  the  Lion  of 
Judah.' 

'  The  Lion  of  England,  I  suppose  you  mean,'  said  an 
officer  somewhat  sharply,  who  had  caught  the  remark  as 
he  passed. 

'  The  Lions  of  England,  Sir,  and  the  Lion  of  Judah 
also,  I  believe,'  answered  the  Gunner,  touching  his  cap : 
'I  have  heard  it  so  remarked,  and  by  one  well  read  in 
heraldry.' 

'  Holloa,  Sharpe  !'  cried  the  other,  '  come,  here's  this 
fellow  Gordon  making  Jews  of  us  all !' 

'  Pardon  me,  gentlemen,'  said  the  Gunner,  as  several 
gathered  round  at  this  summons,  '  I  believe  you  will  find 
on  examination,  that  the  arms  of  England  contained  only 
two  Lions,  until  our  Richard  the  First  added  a  third,  after 
his  conquest  in  Palestine,  and  that  third  lion  he  probably 
adopted  as  the  well-known  standard  of  the  country  where 
his  greatest  exploits  were  performed,  and  a  chief  type  of 
Him,  "  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,"  whose  cause  he 
professed  to  uphold  against  the  infidel  Saracens.' 

'This  is  all  conjecture,'  said  one  of  the  gentlemen 
laughing,  'and  a  very  wild  conjecture  too.' 

'  So  it  is,'  observed  another  :  '  and  yet  I  have  known 
grave  volumes  of  history  founded  on  conjecture  more 
improbable  than  this.' 

A  great  debate  followed,  embracing  various  topics  of 
history,  heraldry,  and  other  matters,  to  which  neither  the 
Gunner  nor  Alick  stayed  to  listen  :  the  former  proceeded 
to  his  post ;  the  latter  went  and  leaned  over  the  stern, 
watching  for  the  glancing  reflection  of  the  banner  on  the 
silver  spray. 

'  Judah's  Lion  !'  thought  he  ;  '  what  a  strange  idea  that 
4* 


34  judah's  lion. 

is  ;  and  yet  I  don't  see  but  it  may  be  perfectly  correct. 
Kichard  bore  the  title  C (Bur-de-lion^  and  might,  in  con- 
sideration of  that  distinction,  clap  a  third  lion  upon  his 
shield.  He  might,  to  be  sure ;  but  on  the  other  hand, 
how  very  natural  it  would  be  that  he,  who  became  by 
his  conquests  lord  of  Palestine,  should  incorporate  that 
trophy  with  his  own.  Judah's  lion  !'  he  again  repeated, 
chuckling  as  the  thought  arose,  '  if  so,  why  England  fights 
under  our  banner — she  may  point  to  the  standard  of  the 
despised  Jew,  and  say,  "In  hoc  signo  vinces."  I'll  go 
this  very  night  to  the  Gunner's  cabin,  and  get  some  fur- 
ther information  from  him.  'Twill  be  better  at  any  rate 
than  turning  into  bed  at  such  an  unreasonable  hour.' 

And  Alick,  happily  for  him,  kept  his  resolution.  No 
sooner  were  the  lights  extinguished,  than  he  proceeded 
to  the  snug  little  cell,  tapping  at  the  door,  and  being  told 
to  walk  in,  found  the  Gunner  seated  at  a  small  table? 
with  a  large  book  before  him.  '  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr. 
Gordon  :  I  won't  interrupt  you  as  you  are  reading.' 

'  Reading  or  not,  you  don't  interrupt  me,  young  gentle- 
man :  I  am  delighted  to  see  you  here.' 

'  May  I  sit  with  you  a  little  while,  Mr.  Gordon  \  May 
I  ask  you  a  few  questions  about  the  Lion  V 

The  Gunner  sprang  from  his  seat,  bolted  the  door,  and 
said  in  a  voice  that  faltered  with  suppressed  emotion, 
'  As  long  as  you  please  you  shall  sit  here,  and  nobody 
shall  interrupt  us  while  we  talk,  as  by  God's  blessing  we 
will  talk' — and  he  clasped  his  hands  together  as  he  leaned 
them  on  the  Bible — '  on  the  most  stirring,  the  most  glori- 
ous of  all  subjects — "  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  !"  ' 
'You  are  very  fond  of  our  people,  Mr.  Gordon,'  said 
Alick,  smiling. 

'  Sir,  I  owe  to  your  people  more  than  my  life :  I  owe 
to  them  this  book,  the  writings  of  Moses  and  the  prophets, 


judah's  lion.  35 

who  were  all  Jews ;  the  writings  of  the  Evangelists  and 
Apostles,  who  were  all  likewise  Jews  :  and  through  them 
the  knowledge  of  my  Lord  and  Savior,  the  King  of  the 
Jews,  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever!' 

This  was  more  than  Alick  Cohen  could  understand  : 
but  he  did  not  mean  to  enter  into  any  theological  discus- 
sion ;  therefore  he  only  said, '  I  am  glad  you  love  us,  Mr. 
Gordon,  and  I'm  sure  I  love  Christians;  at  least  such  as 
you  are.  But  now  about  the  Lion  on  the  standard,  and 
king  Richard  adopting  it.' 

'  You  heard  this  morning  all  I  knew  of  that,'  replied 
Gordon.  '  My  small  stock  of  information  was  soon  com- 
municated. I  saw  you  looking  at  the  royal  standard, 
with  feelings  that  I  very  well  understood ;  for  I  have 
served  under  that  flag,  Mr.  Cohen,  ever  since  I  was  a  lit- 
tle boy — a  little  cabin-boy,  blacking  the  officers'  shoes : 
for  though,  by  the  goodness  of  God,  I  have  risen  to  a  re- 
sponsible and  respectable  station,  and  am  treated  so  kindly 
by  gentlemen  born  and  bred,  yet,  sir,  I  sprang  from  very 
humble  parents,  the  poor  of  this  world,  only  rich  in  faith, 
who  couldn't  have  afforded  me  the  means  of  learning  to 
read.  I  came  first  on  board  a  ship,  hoping  just  to  pick  up 
a  few  crumbs  of  biscuit  by  doing  any  menial  work — an 
honest  little  vagabond,  afraid  to  steal,  and  ashamed  to  beg 
while  my  small  fingers  could  work.  But  you  see,  sir,  I  have 
had  a  good  Master  to  serve,  and  after  some  hard  rubs,  he 
has  brought  me  to  honor,  as  I  ma}^  call  it;  And  now,  Mr. 
Cohen,  I  advise  you  to  serve  the  same  Master,  who  will 
be  equally  gracious  to  you.  To  return  to  the  standard,  as 
I  said,  I  saw  j/^ou  looking  on  it,  with  the  heart  of  an  Eng- 
lishman ;  and  perhaps  not  knowing  that  it  had  its  com- 
mendation to  the  heart  of  an  Israelite  too.' 

'  I  was  quite  ignorant  of  it,  indeed  :  and  I  should  like 
to  know  more  about  our  old  Lion.' 


36  judah's  lion. 

*  You  remember,'  said  Gordon, '  how  your  great  ancestor 
Jacob,  blessed  his  twelve  sons,  the  heads  of  the  twelve 
tribes,  before  he  died  j  and  the  particular  mention  of  the 
lion  in  Judah's  blessing  V 

Alick  did  not  remember,  because  he  did  not  know  a 
word  about  it ;  however,  his  curiosity  was  excited,  and 
he  said  :  '  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Mr.  Gordon,  I  have  been 
rather  a  bad  student.  I  read  what  was  put  into  my  hands, 
but  never  gave  proper  attention  to  it  j  so,  though  I  may 
have  seen  it  all  before,  anything  you  see  good  enough  to 
tell  me  will  be  as  new  to  me  as  if  I  had  not.' 

'  Well,  come  here,  and  look  at  this  page,  where  the 
whole  is  related  by  your  great  lawgiver,  Moses.'  He 
turned  to  the  forty-ninth  chapter  of  Genesis,  and  saying 
in  a  loud  but  distinct  voice,  '  May  the  God  of  Jacob  bless 
it  to  our  souls  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,'  he  pointed  out  the 
eighth  verse,  requesting  Alick  to  read  it,  who,  coloring  with 
a  feeling  that  he  could  not  define,  began,  '  Judab,  thou 
art  he  whom  thy  brethren  shall  praise,  thy  hand  shall  be 
in  the  neck  of  thine  enemies,  thy  father's  children  shall 
bow  down  before  thee.  Judah  is  a  lion's  whelp:  from 
the  prey,  my  son,  thou  art  gone  up:  he  stooped  down, 
he  couched  as  a  lion,  and  as  an  old  lion ;  who  shall  rouse 
him  up  V  Alick  here  exclaimed,  '  Why,  we  heard  that 
in  the  morning.' 

'  Yes,  but  not  in  the  same  part  of  the  book  ;  w^e  will 
see  to  that  presently :  goon,  if  you  please.'  Alick  resumed. 

'"The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from  Judah,  nor  a 
Lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come  j  and 
unto  him  shall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be.  Binding 
his  foal  unto  the  vine,  and  his  ass's  colt  unto  the  choice 
vine ;  he  washed  his  garments  in  wine,  and  his  clothes  in 
the  blood  of  grapes :  his  eyes  shall  be  red  with  wine,  and 
his  teeth  white  with  milk."     This  is  prose,  but  really  I 


judah's  lion.  37 

never  read  poetry  so  beautiful,  Mr.  Gordon.  The  sceptre 
is  departed  from  Judah,  alas  !' — and  that  sigh  was  the 
first  Alick  ever  gave  to  the  desolation  of  his  people — 
'but  I  don't  know  who  Shiloh  is.  In  fact  I  feel  I  am 
shamefully  ignorant  of  things  I  ought  to  know.  Please 
to  tell  me,  Mr.  Gordon,  who  is  Shiloh  V 

As  the  boy  turned  his  bright  eyes  on  his  companion, 
the  expression  of  humility,  submission  and  earnestness, 
upon  his  ingenuous  countenance  so  touched  the  warm 
heart  of  the  old  Christian  sailor,  that  for  the  moment  his 
voice  failed  him.  He  pointed  upwards,  and  then  said, 
'  Pray  that  you  may  know  him.' 

Alick  dropped  his  eyes,  looking  disappointed,  and 
Gordon  resumed,  '  I  will  point  out  something  remarkable 
to  you.  These  words  spoken  by  Jacob  could  not  be 
known  to  that  heathen  idolator  Balaam,  when  the  king  of 
Moab  set  him  to  curse  Israel  ;  yet  see  how  similar  are 
the  terms  he  uses;  in  fact,  the  same  ;'  and  he  turned  to 
the  twenty-fourth  of  Numbers,  pointing  out  the  9th  verse, 
"  He  couched,  he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as  a  great  lion, 
who  shall  stir  him  up  1"  '  That  is  singular,'  said  Alick, 
'  how  do  you  account  for  it  V 

'  By  the  fact,  that  both  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord ;  Jacob  willingly ;  wicked  Balaam 
against  his  will :  and  this  not  only  confirms  the  prophe- 
cy, but  makes  it  doubly  observable. 

'  That's  true.  Do  you  see,  too,  it  is  said  here  that  he, 
that  is  Jacob,  "  hath  as  it  were  the  strength  of  an  uni- 
corn." The  unicorn  also  is  in  the  royal  arms  of  Eng- 
land.' 

Gordon  smiled,  delighted  at  finding  the  youth  thus  in- 
terested.    '  I  never  thought  of  the  unicorn  before,  I  ac- 
.  knowledge,  but  your  remark  is  true.     And  now  see  another 
prediction  of  Shiloh  :  "  There  shall  come  a  star  out  of 


38  jttdah's  lion. 

Jacob,  and  a  sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  Israel :"  this  star, 
this  sceptre  is  Shiloh.' 

*  How  can  that  be  V  asked  Alick  quickly.  '  The  scep- 
tre was  to  depart  when  Shiloh  came  :  how  then  can  Shi- 
loh be  a  sceptre.' 

'I'll  tell  you,'  said  Gordon,  with  increased  animation, 
'  and  oh,  what  a  privilege  it  is  to  tell  you  things  on  the 
knowledge  of  which  depends  the  salvation  of  your  immor- 
tal soul !     This  sceptre  of  Jacob — ' 

Before  he  could  add  another  word,  a  rap  at  the  door 
was  followed  by  a  summons  to  attend  the  first  Lieutenant 
immediately.  Gordon's  countenance  had  never  looked  so 
clouded,  as  it  did  on  hearing  this ;  he  rose  heavily,  and 
Alick  said,  '  Never  mind :  you'll  let  me  come  another 
time,  I  know,  and  then  you  can  tell  me  more  of  this.  I 
am  very,  very  much  obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Gordon,  indeed 
I  am.  I'll  try  to  become  a  better  scholar,  and  at  all 
events  I'll  never  rest  till  I  find  out  all  that  is  to  be  found 
out  about  Judah's  Lion.' 

'  Dear  boy  !'  thought  the  Gunner  as  he  hastened  upon 
deck,  'you  little  know  how  true  a  word  you  have  spoken. 
Rest,  indeed,  can  never  be  yours  till  you  come  to  a  right 
acquaintance  with  the  Lamb  that  was  slain — "  the  Lion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah !" ' 


CHAPTER    IV 


Man's  enmity  against  the  truth  is  the  most  active  prin- 
ciple within  him.  He  may  affect  to  despise,  but  in  real- 
ity he  fears  while  he  hates  it,  and  stoutly  resists  every 
accession  to  the  ranks  of  true  believers.  He  that  is  born 
after  the  flesh,  naturally  desires  to  persecute  a  brother  born 
after  the  Spirit ;  and  there  was  no  exception  to  this  rule 

on  board  Her  Majesty's  ship ,  though  as  yet  the  pious 

Gunner  had  not  experienced  its  operation,  beyond  a  few 
petty  annoyances,  which  he  scarcely  felt. 

But  who  with  impunity  shall  stretch  forth  the  hand  to 
unwind  the  web  in  which  Satan  holds  captive  a  lost  sheep 
of  the  house  of  Israel !  Judaism,  the  shell  wherein  lies, 
concealed  and  useless  to  its  possessor,  the  rich  kernel  of 
the  Gospel,  and  Popery,  the  worthless  husk  from  which 
that  kernel  has  been  privily  eaten  out,  are  the  objects  of 
his  peculiar  vigilance.  To  reveal  to  the  Jew  the  undis- 
covered riches,  and  to  the  Papist  the  unsuspected  hollow- 
ness  of  what  he  grasps,  is  to  shake  the  pillars  of  that  throne 
whereon  the  Prince  of  darkness  sits ;  for  well  he  knows 
that  the  restoration  of  Israel  and  the  destruction  of  Popery 
are  the  appointed  signals  for  fettering  him  in  the  bottoms- 
less  pit. 


40  judah's  lion. 

Sharpe  the  infidel  was  a  ready  tool  in  the  work  of  hiri' 
dering  the  truth.  He  really  dreaded  no  man  on  board  in 
an  argument  except  Gordon,  for  he  alone  wielded  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit  against  him.  The  only  instance  in 
which  he  had  been  effectually  silenced  by  the  learned 
but  unenlightened  Schoolmaster,  was,  when  the  latter 
appealed  to  the  state  of  the  Jews  as  a  living  testimony  to 
the  verity  of  God's  word ;  and  the  way  in  which  Gordon 
followed  it  up  increased  his  annoyance.  He  noticed, 
with  sullen  dislike,  the  growing  cordiality  between  the 
Gunner  and  Alick  Cohen,  and  without  caring  a  straw 
whether  the  boy  continued  a  Jew  or  became  a  '  Metho- 
dist'^ — for  Mr.  Sharpe,  like  many  better  and  wiser  people, 
fancied  that  in  becoming  a  Christian  a  man  must  cease  to 
be  a  Jew — he  resolved  to  make  it  an  occasion  for  punishing 
the  objects  of  his  malice. 

He  easily  managed  to  convey  to  Mr.  Cohen  some  hints 
on  the  unsuitableness  to  his  rank  in  life  of  the  intimacy 
his  young  son  seemed  disposed  to  form  ;  with  an  assurance 
that  if  allowed  to  continue  it  he  would  be  seduced,  not 
merely  from  the  religion  of  his  fathers,  but  to  join  a  sect 
so  extremely  bigoted,  narrow-minded,  and  despised  by 
all  sensible  people,  as  to  become  a  scoff  among  respectable 
Christians.  This  exceedingly  alarmed  Mr.  Cohen  :  he 
sent  for  Alick,  and  bestowed  on  him  a  reprimand  for 
losing  sight  of  his  station  in  society,  and  without  making 
any  allusion  to  religion,  prohibited  him  from  further  ac- 
quaintance with  the  warrant-officer,  in  whose  cabin  he 
heard  he  had  been  sitting  after  the  lights  were  out. 

'That  was  the  very  reason,  father,' said  Alick,  who  had 
no  desire  to  put  it  on  any  other  footing.  '  Do  you  blame 
me  for  availing  myself  of  a  good  candlo,  instead  of  going 
to  bed  at  nursery  hours  V 


judah's  lion.  41 

*  You  are  not  obliged  to  go  to  bed  :  'tis  very  pleasant 
on  deck  in  the  evening.' 

'  I'm  walking  the  deck  all  day,'  said  Alick,  fretfully  ; 
*  and  a  little  quietness  at  night,  without  beings  shut  up 
wholly  in  the  dark,  1  may  surely  enjoy.' 

'Nonsense!  you  have  companions  of  your  own  age 
and  rank,  every  way  suitable,  and  may  be  well  content  to 
do  as  they  do,  Hold  no  farther  intercourse  with  this 
Boatswain,  or  whatever  they  call  him ;  and  remember  it 
is  but  for  a  short  time.  You  will  soon  be  ashore,  and 
may  burn  candles  all  night :  and  all  day  too,  if  you 
please.' 

Alick  smiled  :  his  father's  good-humoi-ed  way  of  speak- 
ing had  always  influenced  him  more  than  any  principle 
of  obedience  would  have  done ;  and  he  resolved  to  follow 
his  own  inclination  without  'vexing'  a  parent  whom  he 
loved,  by  open  rebellion. 

Meanwhile  Sharpe,  having  satisfied  himself  that  Mr. 
Cohen  would  not  sanction  any  farther  intimacy  between 
his  son  and  the  Gunner,  went  to  the  first  Lieutenant, 
who  was  on  deck  ;  and  Sharpe  was  glad  to  perceive  the 
Captain  so  near  as  to  be  within  hearing.  He  mentioned 
to  the  Lieutenant  that  their  worthy  passenger  was  made 
exceedingly  unhappy  by  discovering  that  Gordon,  whom 
every  one  knew  to  be  a  fanatic  in  religion,  was  tamper- 
ing with  his  son's  creed.  '  A  Jew,'  continued  he,  '  feels 
his  disadvantage  among  so  many  Christians :  but  he  is 
really  a  gentleman,  and  as  such' — 

'  Of  course,  of  course,  Mr.  Sharpe,'  interrupted  the 
Captain ;  and  Sharpe,  seeing  his  words  had  produced  the 
desired  effect,  touched  his  cap  and  retreated. 

Gordon  was  summoned,  reprimanded,  and  informed 
that  any  farther  interference  with  the  young  gentleman 
5 


42  JTJDAH  S    LION. 

would  be  considered  an  act  of  insubordination,  and  treated 
accordingly. 

'  Alas !'  thought  the  Christian  sailor,  as  he  slowly 
withdrew,  '  how  many  are  the  foes  that  rise  up  against 
Israel !  Must  I  withhold  my  hand  from  a  work  brought 
to  me  in  a  way  so  remarkable  and  unexpected  '?  I  can't 
think  it  a  part  of  my  duty  to  obey  this  order :  there's 
nothinsr  in  the  articles  of  war  to  authorize  it :  and  if  I 
suffer  unjustly,  not  for  a  breach  of  duty,  but  for  righteous- 
ness' sake,  I  lose  a  little  worldly  profit  and  credit,  but  not 
the  blessing  of  the  Lord.'  Raising  his  eyes,  he  saw  Alick 
among  the  rigging,  laughingly  exultnig  in  having,  by  his 
superior  agility,  outstripped  a  fat,  titled  middy  in  a  climb- 
ing race.  '  The  noble  boy  !  No,  I  won't  give  him  up  : 
I  won't,'  repeated  the  Gunner,  stoutly. 

But  the  next  day  Alick,  watching  an  opportunity, 
eagerly  accosted  him.  '  Mr.  Gordon,  hush !  I'm  forbid- 
den to  speak  to  you  ;  so  tell  me  when  and  where  I  may 
do  it  without  fear  of  discovery.' 

'  Who  forbade  you,  Mr.  Cohen  V 

'  My  father.'  The  Gunner's  countenance  instantly 
fell,  and  he  looked  so  distressed  that  Alick  anxiously  con- 
tinued :  '  It  is  all  through  the  malicious  spite  of  some 
blackguard  or  another — very  likely  that  Sharpe ;  and 
though  I  won't  displease  my  father  openly,  it  shall  not 
hinder  my  talking  with  you  as  much  as  I  can.' 

'  No,  Mr.  Cohen :  the  law  of  Moses,  or  rather  of  God, 
the  law  which  Christ  came  not  to  destroy  but  to  fulfil,  the 
immutable  law  of  the  ten  commandments,  bids  you  honor 
your  father  and  your  mother.  Obedience  to  parents  is  a 
duty  that  none  may  neglect.  Your  father  commands,  you 
must  obey.' 

'  But  this  command  was  unjust  and  unreasonable  :  be- 


judah's  lion.  43 

sides,  I  see  no  cause  why  I  should  be  in  leading-strings  to 
anybody.     I'm  old  enough  to  think  for  myself!' 

Gordon  drew  a  small  Bible  from  his  pocket;  and  turn- 
ing to  the  twenty-first  chapter  of  Deuteronomy,  requested 
Alick  to  read  the  eighteenth  and  three  following  verses, 
saying,  '  That  command  was  given  to  your  fathers.' 

The  youth  read  it  in  silence  ;  then  turning  rapidly  over 
the  leaves  of  the  volume,  and  glancing  at  the  title-page, 
he,  suddenly  looking  up,  said,  with  a  manly  bluntness 
that  had  more  than  once  struck  the  Gunner  as  character- 
istic  of  growing  decision — '  Mr.  Gordon,  I  wish  you 
would  lend  me  this  book.' 

'  Lend  it  you  !  Ay,  that  I  will ;  and  I'll  lend  it  you 
till  you  have  read  every  word  in  it,  and  can  say  you  have 
no  more  use  for  it  j  which  will  not  come  to  pass  till  the 
Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  takes  to  him  his  great  power 
and  comes  to  reign.  The  book  is  yours,  Mr.  Cohen; 
read  it,  and  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  are 
yours.' 

'  But  now,'  said  Alick,  smiling,  '  suppose  Papa  catches 
me  at  it,  and  says,  "  I  forbid  you  to  read  it,"  what  shall  I 

dor 

'  Obey  God  rather  than  man.  You  must  obey  your 
parents,  because  God  has  commanded  it:  but  if  they 
order  you  to  do  anything  contrary  to  his  command,  they 
do  away  with  their  own  authority  which  is  founded  on  his 
command.' 

'  And  does  God  command  me  to  read  this  bookl' 
'  He  does,  sir,  as  you  will  soon  find,  if  you  examine  it. 
The  five  first  books,  the  Pentateuch,  or  books  of  the  law, 
were  written  by  Moses  himself:  and  every  king  of  Israel 
was  required  not  only  to  read,  but  with  his  own  hand  to 
write  out  the  law  as  there  given.  At  this  day  it  is  read 
in  your  synagogues,  and  held  in  the  deepest  veneration.' 


44  jtjdah's  lion. 

*  What!  is  this  the  law,  the  Thorah  of  our  people  1  I 
had  no  idea  of  that.  Will  it  tell  me  any  more  about  the 
Lion  of  Judah  V 

'  Everything,  if  you  will  but  pray  to  have  your  eyes 
opened,  and  your  understanding  enlightened :  and  now 
farewell,  Mr.  Cohen  ;  my  dear  young  friend,  I  hope  I 
may  say.  No  farther  conversation  must  we  have ;  but 
I'll  pray  for  you  day  and  night,  in  the  name  of  the  King 
Messiah,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  And  he  turned  away, 
scarcely  able  to  restrain  his  tears,  but  rejoicing  in  heart, 
while  Alick,  after  warmly  shaking  his  hand,  pocketed  the 
little  Bible  and  walked  off. 

'  How  sinful  I  was,'  thought  the  Gunner,  '  to  doubt 
that  everything  would  be  better  ordered  than  1  could  have 
devised  or  dreamed  of.  There  he  has  got  hold  of  the 
great  scripture  principle  of  obedience  ;  and  his  poor  blind 
father,  in  depriving  him  of  such  a  broken  cistern  as  I 
should  have  been,  has  put  him  in  the  way  of  drawing 
direct  from  the  fountain  of  living  waters.  I  dared  not 
hope  I  should  persuade  him  to  accept  a  Bible,  and  he  has 
asked  me  for  it !' 

Sharpe,  who  expected  a  very  different  expression  of 
countenance,  was  sorely  perplexed  to  see  Gordon  look 
so  contented,  and  even  joyous.  He  narrowly  watched  to 
detect  any  clandestine  doings,  but  in  vain.  Nothing  of 
tlie  sort  took  place  ;  the  only  dissatisfied  countenance  that 
he  saw  was  in  his  looking-glass  :  all  against  whose  peace 
he  had  practised  were  pleased  and  happy. 

Alick  first  found,  and  re-perused  the  prophecy  of  Ba- 
laam ;  and  then  resolved  to  read  the  book  regularly 
through.  This  was  not  an  easy  task  on  board  ship  ;  and 
as  his  father  overcame  the  first  effects  of  the  sea,  he  kept 
him  much  with  him.  We  all  know  how  many  ways  Sa- 
tan has   of  hindering  the  study  of  God's  word  j  and  no 


judah's  lion.  4-5 

marvel  if  poor  Alick  experienced  many  an  interruption. 
Reading  as  opportunity  served  and  inclination  prompted, 
he  had  just  finished  the  book  of  Genesis,  when  they 
neared  the  straits  of  Gibrahar  ;  and  thenceforward  he 
had  no  eyes  or  thought,  save  for  the  look-out.  They 
soon  anchored  in  the  noble  harbor  of  Valetta,  and  disem- 
barking, took  up  their  temporary  abode  ;  the  ship  being 
detained  for  the  next  packet,  which  was  expected  soon, 
with  dispatches  from  Malta. 

Here  Alick  was  destined  to  encounter  the  grand  stum- 
bling-block of  his  people,  against  which  Gordon  had  in- 
tended to  warn  hira.  Strolling  about  with  one  of  the 
middies,  the  day  after  their  arrival,  he  descried  at  some 
little  distance  a  long  line  of  procession,  persons  robed  and 
cowled,  bearing  banners,  and  what  greatly  surprised  him, 
lighted  tapers  that  glared  with  a  strange  sickly  aspect 
under  a  brilliant  sun.  Before  reaching  them,  the  proces- 
sion turned  off  into  a  cross  street,  and  Alick  asked  his 
companion  what  it  was.  '  The  host,  I  suppose,  by  the 
manner  in  which  the  people  reverenced  it.  By  the  way, 
if  ever  you  meet  it,  be  sure  to  take  off  your  hat,  and  stand 
still  till  it  is  past.' 

'  With  all  my  heart :  but  why  V 

'  Why  !  because  everybody  does  ;  that  is,  all  Chris- 
tians do,  and  I  suppose  all  other  people.' 

'  I  have  seen  many  processions  in  ^London,'  observed 
Alick:  '  but,  except  to  cheer  the  Queen,  or  the  Duke,  or 
some  big-wig,  I  never  took  off  my  hat.' 

'  They  don't  carry  the  host  about  in  London,'  said  the 
middy. 

'  Well,  but  what  ifi  this  host  1     What  is  it  made  of  1' 

'  'Tis  made  of  a  wafer,  but  they  think  it  is  God.'  Alick 
stared  most  wildly  at  his  companion,  who,  feeling  his 
deficiency  in  theological   learning,  changed   the   subject- 


46  jubah's  lion. 

However,  the  young  Jew  questioned  his  father  about  it  in 
the  evening,  who  carelessly  said,  'Most  of  the  people  here 
are  Catholics,  and  their  religion  is  more  openly  professed 
than  in  England,  where  liberality  holds  a  very  slow 
march.  We  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  Allck  ;  but  as  a 
matter  of  good-breeding  and  policy,  we  must  show  the 
same  respect  to  it  that  others  do.' 

'  Well,  but,  father,  explain  to  me  what  this  host  or 
wafer  is.' 

'  A  thin  cake,  I  believe,  which  the  priest,  by  speak- 
ing some  words,  pretends  to  turn  into  the  body  of 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  was  crucified  with  others,  as  a 
malefactor,  nearly  two  thousand  years  ago,  and  whom  the 
Christians  call  their  God.  Therefore  they  worship  the 
wafer,  or  host.' 

Alick  made  no  reply  :  in  reality  he  was  enraged.  The 
little  he  had  read  of  the  Scriptures  had  impressed  him  with 
high  and  reverential  views  of  the  Creator  j  and  with  a 
feeling  approaching  to  filial  appropriation  of  the  God  of 
his  father  Abraham.  He  had  a  vivid  imagination,  a  con- 
ception of  the  beautiful,  and  still  more  of  the  sublime  ; 
and  all  that  Gordon  had  said  tended  to  enlarge  his  appre- 
hension of  the  great  power  and  majesty  of  the  Most  High. 
His  father's  statement  seemed  to  imply  a  double  profana- 
tion, that  part  which  concerned  the  wafer  being  equally 
monstrous  in  its  absurdity  as  blasphemous  in  its  impiety  : 
and  the  whole  absolutely  irritated  him  against  Christianity 
to  a  degree  that  surprised  himself  He  recollected  having 
been  arrested  by  a  verse  addressed  to  Israel,  when  turning 
over  the  leaves  of  the  Bible,  which  he  thought  bore  on 
this  point :  and  locking  himself  up,  he  took  out  the  book, 
and  soon  found  it  in  Deuteronomy  iv.  He  read  the 
chapter  with  wonder  and  delight,  until,  coming  to  the 
twenty-seventh    verse,  he  found,   "  And  the  Lord  shall 


JUDAIl's    LION.  47 

scatter  you  among  the  nations,  and  ye  shall  be  left  few  in 
number  among  the  heathen,  whither  the  Lord  shall  lead 
you.  And  there  shall  ye  serve  Gods,  the  work  of  men's 
hands,  wood  and  stone,  which  neither  see,  nor  hear,  nor 
eat,  nor  smell."  Here  he  started  up,  and  exclaimed 
aloud,  '  Never  !  God  of  Abraham,  I  never  will.  Scattered 
we  are,  and  few  in  number  among  these  heathen,  but 
never  will  I  be  guilty  of  such  a  vile  sin  !  Call  a  wafer 
Jehovah,  and  bow  down  before  it !  Why,  the  bare  idea 
is  enough  to  bring  a  judgment  upon  me.  What  fools 
these  Christians  are,  to  circulate  a  book  that  shows  their 
wickedness  in  such  a  strong  light.  Only  for  this  book,  I 
might  have  done  as  they  do.'  He  read  no  farther,  but 
carefully  restoring  the  volume  to  its  hiding-place,  he  lifted 
up  his  hand  to  heaven,  and  solemnly  repeated,  '  I  never 
will !' 

Next  day  he  went  out,  with  a  young  military  officer, 
and  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  descried  a  procession 
approaching,  more  showy  than  the  former,  with  a  richly- 
gilded  canopy  held  aloft.  '  Here  comes  the  host,'  observed 
the  officer :  '  now  we  must  be  on  our  good  behavior,  and 
salute  it.' 

'  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  do,'  said  Alick. 

'Pho,  you  must :  'tis  a  necessary  piece  of  civility  that 
everybody  shows.' 

'I  am  a  Jew  ;  and  I  will  not  disgrace  my  religion.' 

'  And  I  am  a  staunch  Protestant,  and  ashamed  to  yield, 
I  confess :  but  really  we  must.  Or,  stay  ;  shall  we  go 
into  this  shop,  and  so  avoid  it  V 

'  You  may,'  replied  Alick,  quietly. 

The  young  man  misunderstood  him  ;  and  supposing  he 
would  follow,  immediately  turned  into  the  cigar  shop; 
and  to  be  further  out  of  the  way,  walked  straight  on,  to 
the  very  back  :  while  Alick  coolly  pursued  his  path  along 


48  judah's  lion. 

the  street,  and  met  the  procession  in  a  more  open  space. 
Every  head  was  uncovered  j  several  poor  people  knelt ; 
all  showed  respect  to  the  idolatrous  abomination  :  but  like 
Mordecai  in  the  presence  of  Haman,  young  Cohen  re» 
mained  erect  and  covered. 

'  Take  off  your  hat !'  shouted  the  people  who  had  con- 
gregated ^  there,  some  in  English,  some  in  Italian,  and 
various  other  dialects.  '  You  had  better  take  your  hat  off,' 
whispered  a  gentleman  to  Alick,  in  a  friendly,  persuasive 
tone. 

'  You  had  better  put  yours  on,'  was  the  retort.  Menaces 
followed  :  the  host  w^as  now  just  on  a  line  with  him  j 
several  hands  were  raised,  and  one  brawny  fellow  struck 
the  hat  from  Alick's  head,  who,  catching  and  instantly  re- 
placing it  with  his  left  hand,  at  the  same  moment  knocked 
the  assailant  down  with  his  right,  who  fell  so  near  the 
feet  of  a  torch-bearing  friar  as  to  endanger  the  upset  both 
of  himself  and  his  flambeau.  Great  tumult  ensued:  and 
Alick  was  being  very  roughly  handled,  when  on  one  side, 
the  young  military  officer,  and  on  the  other  two  or  three 
of  his  late  shipmates,  ran  up,  and  with  the  help  of  some 
bystanders,  who  in  their  hearts  admired  the  boy's  spirit, 
succeeded  in  extricating  him  without  further  violence. 
He  had,  however,  severely  sprained  his  ancle,  and  was 
scarcely  able  to  walk  back  to  his  quarters,  where  Mr. 
Cohen  slightly  reprimanded  his  illiberal  conduct,  and 
secretly  congratulated  himself  on  being  the  father  of  such 
a  fine  fellow,  who,  when  a  little  sobered  down,  would 
doubtless  shine  in  the  world. 

Such  scenes  sometimes  occur  in  Malta,  and  other  places 
where,  while  naval  and  military  men  are  compelled 
either  to  violate  their  pledge  of  obedience  to  earthly 
powers  and  forfeit  their  commissions,  or  to  transgress  the 
law  of  God  by  an  act  of  idolatrous  homage  to  an  accursed 


jtroAJi's  LION.  49 

thing, — a  private  Protestant  is  occasionally  found  suffici- 
ently bold  in  faith  to  defy  the  consequences  of  refusing  it. 
But  this  was  the  act  of  a  Jew :  and  it  spread  through  the 
place  with  numberless  additions. 

In  the  evening-,  while  Alick  reclined  on  a  couch,  for 
the  repose  of  his  bandaged  ancle,  a  lofty  personage  entered, 
whose  countenance  at  once  proclaimed  his  nation,  while 
his  picturesque  costume,  more  Asiatic  than  European, 
though  not  altogether  so,  and  the  beard  that  with  jet  black 
curls  almost  concealed  the  lower  part  of  his  face,  struck 
the  youth  with  mingled  surprise  und  curiosity.  He 
looked  round  for  a  moment,  while  Mr.  Cohen  rose  with 
his  accustomed  politeness,  and  returned  his  courteous 
salutation  ;  then  advancing  to  the  sofa,  he  said,  in  English, 
but  with  a  very  foreign  accent,  '  I  am  a  stranger  in 
Malta ;  but  tell  me,  is  this  stripling  the  son  of  Israel  who 
dared  to  brave  the  rage  of  assembled  Gentiles  rather  than 
humble  himself  before  their  idol  ?'  . 

'  Yes,  sir,'  answered  Alick.  '  I  know  no  God  but  the 
God  of  Abraham.' 

The  stately  Jew  spread  his  hands  over  his  head,  pro- 
nounced a  blessing  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  and  sat  down 
beside  him. 


CHAPTER   V. 


It  has  already  been  noticed  that  Mr.  Cohen's  object  in 
Alick's  education,  was  to  fit  him  for  legislatorial  and  other 
functions  of  public  life,  where  national  peculiarities  would 
be  laid  aside  ;  or  rather  his  nationality  as  a  Jew  altogether 
merged  in  his  English  citizenship.  The  general  state  of 
those  among  whom  they  principally  associated,  was  that 
of  a  money-getting  and  money-loving  race,  who  held 
their  own  particular  religion  much  as  the  same  class  among 
nominal  Christians  do,  that  is  to  say,  as  a  mere  accident — 
they  happened  to  be  bom  in  such  a  communion,  just  as 
they  happened  to  be  born  when  periwigs  were  outjof 
date  :  so  they  neither  wore  periwigs  nor  abandoned  the 
creed  of  their  fathers.  Taking  it  for  granted  that  others 
held  their  religious  profession  by  the  same  loose  tenure, 
they  were  perfectly  content  to  let  them  retain  it,  and 
were  far  too  well-bred  to  make  it  a  matter  of  animadver- 
sion 5  far  less  did  any  idea  of  building  personal  objections 
upon  it  enter  their  minds. 

The  only  instance  in  which  Mr.  Cohen  felt  as  a  Jew, 
was  in  reference  to  his  poor  brethren,  the  lower  class  of 
Hebrews  in  London  5  and  many  a  time  did  he,  as  a  Jew, 
address  them  in  language  of  warm  remonstrance,  and 
speak  of  them  to  others  in  that  of  severe  censure,  and 


judah's  lion.  51 

almost  downright  repudiation.  He  could  see  no  reason, 
he  said,  why  a  people  of  most  unquestionable  antiquity, 
once  the  glory  and  dread  of  the  whole  earth,  and  still  the 
most  wealthy  of  all,  should  forget  their  proper  position, 
and  submit  to  be  classed  with  the  least  respectable  of 
those  among  whom  they  dwelt,  their  equals  or  inferiors. 
On  this  point  he  was  eloquent ;  and  what  was  far  more,  he 
really  labored  to  reclaim  some  with  whom  his  business 
brought  him  into  contact,  by  appealing  to  what  he  sup- 
posed to  be  their  strongest  feelings,  but  in  vain.  Poor 
Cohen  did  not  know,  he  would  not  search  into  the  Book 
and  read,  that  his  race  was  doomed  to  this  fate ;  that  to  be 
a  proverb,  a  by-word,  a  hissing,  an  astonishment  among 
the  nations,  was  the  penalty  denounced  on  them  for  ag- 
gravated transgressions,  until  they  should  turn  again  to 
the  Lord  who  smote  them.  Sometimes  he  was  reminded 
by  his  more  consistent  brethren  that  their  people  were 
scourged  for  their  sins,  and  scattered  because  of  their 
transgressions  as  of  old  :  but  this  he  regarded  as  a  mere 
excuse,  unworthy  of  rational  beings ;  and  persisted  in  be- 
lieving that  an  effort  on  their  part  would  at  once  raise 
them  to  a  level  with  their  fellow-subjects : '  and  above  the 
level,'  he  added :  '  for  half  the  ingenuity  that  they  now 
practise,  would,  if  properly  directed,  soon  overstep  all 
competitors,  and  give  them  the  lead  in  every  department 
of  honorable  industry.' 

Such  language  Alick  had  often  heard  from  his  father's 
lips ;  and  that  he  did  not  immediately  forget  it  was  owing 
to  Esther.  She  would  sit  in  profound  silence,  her  head 
bent  over  her  embroidery  or  painting,  to  conceal  from  her 
uncle  the  varying  color  of  her  cheek,  and  the  displeasure 
that  her  frequent  frown  betrayed  ;  then,  when  alone  with 
Alick,  would  give  vent  to  expressions  that  amused  him 
greatly,  claiming  such  high  honors  and  privileges  for  the 


52  judah's  lion. 

most  degraded  subject  of  Mr.  Cohen's  complaint,  that  the 
youth  would  sa.',  'Well,  Esther,  I  am  happy  in  being  a 
Jew,  or  you  would  not  allow  me  to  loll  in  my  chair  in 
your  august  presence.  If  all  trades  fail,  I  have  only  to 
mount  a  greasy  beard,  and  shoulder  an  old-clothes  bag, 
and  then  instead  of  falling  I  shall  positively  rise  in  your 
estimation.' 

It  had  never  yet  been  Alick's  lot  to  meet  with  one 
among  his  own  people  who  took  the  view  that  Gordon  did 
of  their  real  position  ;  but  there  was  something  in  his  secret 
mind  that  responded  to  it.  He  had  begun  to  think  that 
Christianity — such  as  it  appeared  in  Gordon — was  a  re- 
fined and  elevated  species  of  Judaism,  and  under  this  im- 
pression he  was  prepared  to  read  the  New  Testament  with 
an  unprejudiced,  inquiring  mind :  but  the  view  that  he 
had  now  taken  of  the  system  that  falsely  usurps  the  name 
of  Christianity,  and  under  pretence  of  honoring  the  Lord 
degrades  him  more  effectually  than  the  utmost  blasphemies 
of  an  open  enemy  can  do,  made  him  recoil  as  from  the 
brink  of  a  precipice ;  while  the  total  absence  of  sympathy 
on  all  sides,  was  a  burden  to  his  ingenuous  disposition. 

When  the  strange  visiter,  whose  aspect  very  much  pre- 
possessed him,  made  some  kind  inquiries  into  the  extent  of 
Alick's  hurt,  he  turned  to  Mr.  Cohen,  and  asked  after  the 
welfare  of  their  brethren  in  England. 

'  Nothing  material  has  occurred  among  them,'  replied 
Mr.  Cohen :  '  but  may  I  ask  how  long  it  is  since  you  were 
there  V 

'  Never;  I  have  not  been  in  England.' 

'No!  you  speak  the  language  well.' 

'I  have  been  much  used  to  traffic  with  Europeans,  and 
learned  many  languages :  English  among  them.'  Then 
turning  to  Alick,  he  said,  '  Thou  hast  been  well  taught. 


judah's  lion.  53 

my  son,  in  the  law  of  our  holy  commandments,  abhorring 
the  idolater.     Cursed  be  he  !' 

Alick  heartily  assented ;  but  his  father  frowned. 
'  Where  he  has  been  taught  I  know  not:  no  such  lesson 
of  illiberalily,  no  such  bigotry  and  intolerance,  can  have 
been  learned  under  my  roof.  They  are  wholly  subversive 
of  good  citizenship,  and  can  only  tend  to  bar  his  advance- 
ment.' 

The  visiter  gazed  at  him  in  evident  perplexity ;  but 
whether  the  sentunent  uttered  surprised  him,  or  the  lan- 
guage that  conveyed  it  baffled  his  limited  comprehension, 
was  not  clear.  Before  any  further  remark  could  be  made, 
a  servant  entered  to  place  in  his  master's  hand  a  card  in- 
scribed with  the  name  of  one  whom  he  knew  to  be  a  con- 
vert, and  a  zealous  missionary  among  the  Jews,  and  who 
requested  to  see  the  young  gentleman. 

'  Show  him  in,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  in  any  tone  but  that  of 
satisfaction ;  and  then  muttered  as  he  turned  on  his  heel, 
'  Upon  my  word,  this  boy's  folly  will  bring  upon  us  all  the 
fanatics  in  Malta  V 

The  missionary  entered,  and  with  that  frank  unceremo- 
nious manner  that  defies  repulse,  walked  up  to  the  couch, 
saying,  as  he  extended  his  hand,  '  My  young  friend,  you 
have  done  well  to-day.' 

'  That,  sir,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  who  began  to  feel  that  his 
authority  was  likely  to  be  set  aside,  '  may  admit  of  a  ques- 
tion.    I  consider  that  he  has  done  ill.' 

'  Are  you  his  father  V 

'  Yes,  I  am.' 

'  Are  you  a  Jew  V 

'  Yes.' 

'  What  is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  concernino:  the 
maker  of  an  image,  and  the  worshipper  thereof?' 

'  A  great  deal,  no  doubt,  that  is  necessary  for  the  teach- 
6 


54  judah's  Liorf. 

ers  of  the  law  to  be  well  acquainted  with  ;  but  with  which 
a  school-boy  has  nothing  to  do.' 

'  True,'  said  the  first  comer,  who  had  regarded  the  mis= 
sionary  from  his  entrance  with  an  unfriendly  eye,  'True  j 
for  it  is  written  in  the  Hilehoth  Talmud  Torah, 
"  Women,  and  slaves,  and  children  are  exempt  from  the 
study  of  the  law." ' 

The  missionary  smiled,  and  laying  his  hand  on  the  Jew's 
shoulder,  said,  '  My  worthy  Josef  Ben-Melchor,  you  with 
your  Talmud  are  as  far  astray  from  the  law  of  Moses  as 
the  poor  Papist  with  his  wafer-god  is  from  the  gospel  of 
Christ.'  Then  addressing  Mr.  Cohen,  he  added,  '  Hear, 
brother,  what  Jehovah  saith:  "  These  words  which  I  com- 
mand thee  this  day  shall  be  in  thine  heart ;  and  thou  shalt 
teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of 
them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou 
walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when 
thou  risest  up."  To  our  fathers  were  these  words  ad- 
dressed, and  our  fathers  heard,  and  obeyed,  and  it  was 
well  with  them.  But  after  a  while  they  forgot :  they 
ceased  to  treasure  in  their  hearts  the  commandment  given  j 
they  taught  it  no  longer  to  their  children,  neither  spake 
they  of  it  when  sitting  in  the  house,  or  when  walking  by 
the  way  ;  when  lying  down  or  rising  up.  The  word  was 
put  away  from  their  remembrance,  so  that  when  crafty  men 
crept  into  Moses'  seat,  they  found  it  easy  to  twist  and 
corrupt  the  divine  law,  adding  thereto  many  inventions 
and  idle  devices  of  their  own,  until  they  had  actually 
made  void  the  law  with  their  traditions ;  and  Rabbinical 
corruptions  prevailed  over  the  inspired  teaching  of  Moses 
the  man  of  God.  And  what  followed  1  They  had 
quenched  the  lamp  of  their  feet,  the  written  word  was  set 
aside,  and  when  the  living  Word,  even  the  Bread  of  life, 
even  the  Lord  from  heaven,  came,  him  they  crucified  and 


judah's  lion.  55 

slew.  Ay,  Josef  Ben-Melchor,  it  was  your  Talmud, 
your  oral  laws,  your  vain  superstitions  received  from  your 
fathers,  that  brought  on  our  people  blindness  of  heart,  till 
they  sinned  that  great  sin  which  caused  our  city  to  be 
destroyed,  and  the  sword  to  be  drawn  out  after  us.  And 
His  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but  His  hand  is  stretched 
forth  still !' 

The  missionary  spoke  with  the  look  and  action  of  a  man 
whose  heart  goes  along  with  every  word  he  utters.  To 
interrupt  would  have -been  nearly  impossible  ;  it  was  a 
burst  of  feeling  not  to  be  stayed  in  its  course.  Mr.  Cohen 
heard  impatiently.  Alick  with  eager  attention,  and  Josef 
with  ill-suppressed  rage.  His  dark  eye  assumed  an  ex- 
pression of  fierce  displeasure,  his  brows  were  knit,  and  his 
lip  trembled.  When  the  missionary  concluded,  he  said, 
in  a  deep  hoarse  tone,  far  unlike  that  in  which  he  had  be- 
fore spoken,  '  The  curse  of  the  wicked  be  upon  thee,  Dog  ! 
Thou  hast  sold  thyself  to  the  evil  one ;  thou  hast  com- 
mitted the  idolatry  that  this  young  boy's  spirit  could  not 
suffer,  and  therefore  he  is  wounded  and  sick.  Thou  pratest 
of  Moses,  blessed  be  he !  and  of  the  Holy  One,  to  whom 
be  praise  !  while  a  crust  of  bread  is  thy  god,  and  thy  ho- 
nor is  to  that  which  thou  eatest.     Away,  Dog !' 

'  It  is  untrue,'  said  the  missionary  with  indignant 
warmth,  '  I  abhor  the  idolatrous  abomination,  and  I  would 
that  the  same  heart  were  in  us  all,  that  moved  this  young 
Israelite  to  scorn  the  deceitful  aspect  of  reverence  for  that 
which  we  alike  condemn.  You  call  me  dog,  brother 
Josef—-' 

Here  Mr.  Cohen  gladly  availed  himself  of  the  rising 
color  in  his  son's  cheeks,  and  pointed  out  to  the  dispu- 
tants what  he  termed  a  symptom  of  fever;  and  then  he 
civill}',  but  very  decisively,  requested  that  they  would  ad- 
journ their  debate  to  some  place  where  no  invalid  was 


56  judah's  lion. 

likely  to  occasion  such  an  interruption  as  he  was  sorry 
now  to  give.  Josef  rose,  and  again  spread  his  hands  over 
Alick,  pronouncing  another  Hebrew  blessing,  to  which 
the  missionary  in  the  same  language  added  an  Amen. 
He  had  not  been  seated  :  and  now,  standing  at  a  little 
distance,  he  gazed  on  the  youth  with  affectionate  interest 
for  a  moment,  then  raising  his  hands  and  eyes  prayed  that 
he  might  be  preserved  from  every  snare,  and  led  into  the 
fold  of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel,  there  to  rejoice  for  ever- 
more. Ben-Melchor  the  while  was  speaking  in  a  low 
earnest  voice  to  Mr.  Cohen,  who  bowed  and  thanked  him 
with  cold  politeness  j  and  stepping  to  the  door  after 
touching  the  bell,  continued  to  bow  out  both  his  guests, 
on  whose  departure  he  flung  himself  into  a  chair  exceed- 
ingly irritated,  but  unwilling  to  vent  it  on  Alick  ;  who, 
after  a  short  pause,  said,  '  Don't  be  uneasy  about  me, 
Papa  :  I  assure  you  I  am  not  feverish  in  the  least :  if  I 
reddened,  it  was  from  an  inclination  to  laugh  at  hearing 
how  our  new  friend  be-dogged  the  other  gentleman.'  '  It 
was  perfectly  disgusting,  Alick,'  said  his  father  :  '  and  I 
am  glad  you  view  them  all  with  the  contempt  they  merit. 
I  hope,  too,  that  a  sense  of  the  impropriety  of  your  own 
conduct  may  be  awakened  now  that  you  perceive  by 
what  class  of  men  it  is  applauded.  At  your  age,  a  lad 
will  sometimes  get  into  mischief,  and  signalize  himself  in 
a  row  ;  but  never  let  it  be  on  the  score  of  religion  : 
nothing  lowers  a  gentleman  so  much  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world.  Be  as  decided  as  you  please  in  your  private 
opinions  on  such  matters,  but  keep  them  to  yourself : 
when  they  cease  to  be  private  you  lose  your  caste  in  so- 
ciety, and  are  numbered  with  bigots  and  fools.' 

Alick  smiled  :  for  he  was  then  acting  such  a  part, 
though  not  exactly  in  the  way  his  father  meant  him  to 
do.       Everything  that  passed  added  to  his  anxiety  for  a 


judah's  lion.  57 

full  insight  into  the  very  subject  that  he  was  advised  to 
keep  clear  of:  and  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  discover 
truth  for  the  purpose  of  openly  declaring  and  maintaining' 
it.  '  Somebody  must  be  right,'  thought  he,  '  and  all  the 
rest  wrong.  If  ours  is  the  true  religion, — and  that  I  am 
sure  it  is, — we  ought  not  to  be  the  most  oppressed  and 
degraded  people  in  the  world  :  and  that  I'll  prove,  by-and- 
by,  to  Jew  and  Gentile.  If  dear  old  England  is  so  far 
identified  with  us  as  to  bear  our  Lion  in  her  arms,  and  to 
favor  us  as  she  does,  I'll  stir  up  the  English  to  help  us  in 

recovering  our  own  land.      If,' ,  here  he  paused,  and 

became  agitated,  and  then  muttered  in  a  more  hasty  way, 
'  No,  no  ;  he  can't  have  come :  our  Messiah  put  to  death 
by  the  Gentiles — impossible  !  and  by  the  Jews,  more  im- 
possible still.  Some  devilish  sort  of  craft  must  be  in  Gor- 
don and  that  missionary,  to  conceal  and  deny  their  worship 
of  the  wafer,  when  this  young  fellow  told  me,  and  1  my- 
self saw,  that  every  Christian  took  off  his  hat  to  it.  I  get 
so  perplexed  when  1  think  of  the  Christians !  I'll  stick 
to  my  own  people,  and  read  the  Books  of  Moses  only. 
But  then  how  could  the  Jew  be  right,  who  said,  "  Women 
and  children  and  slaves  should  not  study  the  law  1" 
What  the  other  quoted  was  certainly  from  the  Penta- 
teuch, for  I  remember  dipping  into  it.  •  However,  I'm 
neither  woman,  child,  nor  slave,  and  study  it  I  will,  for  I 
never  feel  clear  on  any  of  these  points  except  when  I'm 
reading.  To-morrow  or  next  day  I  will  try  to  find  out 
the  missionary,  and  t-.ee  how  far  he  and  Gordon  agree : 
and  also  what  he  knows  about  the  Lion.' 

The  next  day,  however,  wholly  changed  Alick's  plans  : 
Mr.  Cohen,  dreading  lest  the  notoriety  that  his  protest  had 
led  to  should  entangle  his  son  farther  in  polemics,  w'ent 
privatel}''  and  ascertained  that  a  light  vessel  was  to  sail  on 

the  morrow  for  Smyrna,  in  which,  though  it  was  far  out 
6* 


58  judah's  lion. 

of  his  projected  route,  he  resolved  to  proceed.  The  small 
quantity  of  luggage  which  he  resolved  to  take  from  on 
board  ship,  was  easily  obtained  j  an  apology  tendered  to 
and  accepted  by  the  Captain,  Avho  was  on  shore ;  and 
Alick,  to  his  great  surprise,  learned  at  the  breakfast-table 
that  they  would  embark  at  noon.  The  glee  with  which 
he  received  the  tidings  pleased  his  father,  and  nothing  in- 
terfered with  their  respective  wishes,  until  they  were 
fairly  settled  in  the  new  berth.  The  vessel  was  small, 
and  presented,  to  be  sure,  a  marked  contrast  to  the  noble 
ship  of  war ;  the  only  good  cabin  was  occupied  by  a  lady, 
who,  the  master  informed  them,  was  European  ;  and  their 
sleeping  accommodations  were  exceedingly  bad.  This 
gave  little  concern  to  either  of  the  Cohens,  the  elder  be- 
ing intent  on  his  son's  rescue  ;  and  the  younger  bent  on 
experiencing  all  possible  variety  of  adventures,  of  which 
this  little  bark,  with  its  motley  crew,  promised  him  a  good 
specimen.  In  Malta  he  had  no  wish  to  remain,  being 
fully  determined  to  make  no  concession  whatever  to  idol- 
atry, and  yet  unwilling  to  vex  his  father  as  he  must 
needs  do. 

All  was  ready,  sails  set,  the  anchor  weighed,  and  the 
vessel  beginning  to  work  her  way,  when  she  was  hailed 
to  take  in  another  passenger,  who  presently  arrived  in  a 
boat,  and  after  a  short  parley,  in  Italian,  mounted  the 
deck.  Great  was  Mr.  Cohen's  dismay  at  recognizing  at 
once  the  voice  and  the  features  of  Josef  Ben-Melchor : 
but  at  the  same  time  a  qualmish  feeling  came  over  him, 
occasioned  by  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  which  contrived  to 
roll  unsteadily  even  on  the  smooth  surface  of  that  beautiful 
sea ;  and  he  was  glad  to  retire  to  his  narrow  berth,  leav- 
ing Alick  to  receive  and  return  the  cordial  greeting  of  the 
Jew. 

On  the  first  day  of  their  voyage,  nothing  material  pass- 


jddah's  lion.  59 

ed  :  each  was  fully  occupied  in  contriving  to  make  him- 
self tolerably  comfortable :  and  Alick  soon  ascertained 
that  to  bivouac  on  deck  would  be  infinitely  preferable  to 
any  other  mode  of  taking  rest.  The  lady  did  not  show 
herself,  though  he  directed  sundry  inquisitive  looks  to- 
wards her  little  cabin,  as  he  passed  it  to  visit  his  father : 
but  early  the  next  morning  it  was  ajar,  and  a  round  face, 
adorned  with  short  close  auburn  curls,  and  two  very 
bright  hazel  eyes,  peeped  out  upon  him.  Alick  was  fond 
of  children  :  he  had  a  little  brother  at  home,  and  with  in- 
voluntary eagerness  at  the  sight  of  such  a  pretty  play- 
mate he  said,  '  Will  you  come  on  deck  1' 

The  rosy  face  disappeared  :  he  supposed  it  was  from 
alarm  at  hearing  a  strange  language  :  but  before  he  could 
leave  the  spot,  he  was  delighted  by  the  sound  of  a  lusty 
little  voice  shouting  out,  '  Mamma,  may  I  go  on  deck  ?' 

'  With  whom,  my  love  V  returned  a  very  pleasing 
female  voice. 

■•  '  With  me,  ma'am,'  said  Alick,  putting  his  mouth  close 
to  the  door  ;  '  an  English  traveller :  and  I'll  take  good 
care  of  him.' 

There  was  a  momentary  bustle  inside,  and  then  the 
door  half  opened,  and  a  lady  appeared,  clad  in  a  wrapping- 
gown,  and  morning  cap,  her  hair  combed  back  from,  a  very 
fine,  open  brow,  and  with  much  good-humor  depicted  on  a 
very  fair  countenance.  On  seeing  Alick,  she  smiled,  and  re- 
marked, '  My  little  boy  is  very  giddy  :  will  it  not  tax 
your  kindness  too  far  to  take  such  care  of  him  as  he 
requires  V 

'  Oh,  no,  ma'am  :  I  am  quite  a  nursery-maid,  I  assure 
you,  and  celebrated  for  taking  care  of  such  people  as 
my  little  friend  there.  I  promise  you  to  bring  him  back 
perfectly  safe.' 

*  The  Lord  permitting,'  added  the  lady  with  a  more 
serious  look.     '  Well,  Charley,  since  the  young  gentle- 


60  judah's  lion. 

man  is  so  kind,  you  shall  go  :  but  be  very  heedful — don't 
leave  him  for  a  moment.'  She  kissed  the  little  fellow — 
ejaculating,  '  God  preserve  my  dear  boy  !'  and  then  hold- 
ing out  her  hand  to  Alick,  thanked  him,  and  closed  the 
door. 

His  prize  was  soon  carried  on  deck  :  and  Alick  began, 
*  So,  Charley,  you're  an  Englishman,  after  all.' 

'  No,  I  ain't :  I'm  an  Irishman.' 

'  Oh,  it's  the  same  thing  :  where  do  you  come  from  V 

'  Out  of  Ireland,  and  Malta,  and  Alexandria,  and  Lon- 
don, and  all  sorts  of  places.     Papa  is  out  there,  where 

"  The  cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone."  ' 

He  sang,  or  rather  chanted  the  two  lines,  and  Alick 
felt  such  a  rush  of  emotion  through  his  frame  as  he  could 
not  account  for.  He  pressed  the  child  to  his  side,  and 
asked,  '  What  is  papa  doing  V 

'  He  is  looking  after  the  Jews — do  you  love  the  Jews  V 

'  Yes.' 

'  I'm  glad  of  that.     Do  you  know  any  Jews  V 

'  Oh,  lots  and  lots.' 

'  Do  you  ever  tell  them  about  the  Messiah,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  1' 

Alick  was  silent :  and  the  little  boy  seizing  him  by  the 
button  on  each  side  of  his  jacket,  pulled  him  to  and  fro, 
saying,  '  Do  you  1  Do  you  1     And  if  you  don't  why  don't 

you   '.  iCii-ir' 

Alick  was  really  confused :  but  at  last  said,  '  I  am  a 
Jew  myself,  and  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  Jesus  Christ' 

The  boy  loosed  his  hold,  stepped  back  a  pace,  and 
with  a  look  full  of  sorrow  and  rebuke  said,  '  Then  you 
will  never  go  to  heaven.' 

A  movement  of  the  vessel  made  him  stagger,  and  Alick 
catching  him,  set  him  on  his  knee,  and  half  provoked,  said, 


judah's  lion.  61 

*  How  do  you  know  that  1  what  business  have  you  to  shut 
me  out  of  heaven  V 

'  I  can't,  for  I  haven't  got  the  key,  but  Jesus  Christ 
has :  and  it  is  he  will  let  you  in,  or  shut  you  out.' 

'  That  is  not  true,  Charley  :  God  has  the  key.' 

'  I  know  it :  and  Jesus  is  God.' 

The  young  Jew  shuddered  as  he  looked  at  the  little 
blasphemer,  as  he  considered  him  :  but  Charley's  arm  was 
round  his  neck,  and  his  bright  face  turned  to  him  with  so 
much  love,  that  he  could  not  help  stroking  it  as  he  said, 
'  My  little  lad,  you  are  too  young  to  meddle  with  these 
things  yet.' 

'  Am  1  too  young  to  die,  Mr.  Jew  1' 

'  Why,  no.' 

'  And  if  I  die,  mustn't  I  wish  to  go  to  heaven  '?  and 
how  can  I  get  in  without  knowing  who  keeps  the  key, 
that  I  may  ask  him  to  open  the  door  V 

*  Well,  I  don't  believe  that  he  of  whom  you  talk  is  in 
heaven  at  all.' 

'  Don't  you,  don't  you  1  Oh  dear  !  I  wish  I  had  my 
Testament  here :  I'd  soon  show  you.' 

'  Can  you  read  V 

'Read  !  why  I'm  near  six:  I  could  read  at  four.' 

'  Well,  Charley,  I'll  try  you.  Here's  a  Bible,'  cau- 
tiously drawing  it  forth  from  his  breast-pocket,  'and  now 
read  me  something  to  prove  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  heaven.' 

Charley  tumbled  the  leaves  over  in  great  haste,  and 
came  to  the  book  of  Revelations,  when  he  read  the  sub- 
lime words  in  the  first  chapter  ;  "  And  he  laid  his  right 
hand  on  me,  saying.  Fear  not,  I  am  he  that  liveth  and 
was  dead,  and  behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore,  and  have 
the  keys  of  death  and  of  hell.  Amen.'  "  Then  turning 
to  the  fifth  chapter,  he  went  on, — '  And  look  here,  Mr. 
Jew,  what  a  beautiful  thing  is  here  :  "  And  I  wept  much 
because  no  man  was  found  worthy  to  open  and  to  read  the 


62  judah's  lion. 

book,  neither  to  look  thereon.  And  one  of  the  Elders 
said  unto  me,  weep  not  5  Behold,  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah,  the  root  of  David,  hath  prevailed  to  open  the 
book,  and  to  loose  the  seven  seals  thereof.     And  I  beheld, 

and  lo,  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,"  ' At  this  moment 

Alick,  who  with  breathless  eagerness  was  listening  to 
words  so  unexpectedly  startling  to  him,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
Ben-Melchor,  and  shutting  the  book,  thrust  it  into  his  bo- 
som again,  saying,  'Hush,  hush,  dear  Charley,  for  the 
present.  We  will  read  all  the  rest  by-and-by  :  say  no- 
thing more  now :  and  don't  call  me  Mr.  Jew,  but  Alick 
Cohen.    Not  that  I'm  ashamed  of  being  a  Jew.' 

'How  would  anybody  be  ashamed  of  being  one  of 
God's  own  dear  Israel  V  said  Charley  with  surprise.  Alick 
kissed  him,  and  again  enjoined  silence.  He  heartily 
wished  Josef  in  Malta,  but  received  his  greeting  very 
courteously,  and  gave  a  good  report  of  his  ancle,  af- 
ter which  the  Jew  kindly  inquired,  with  some  severe 
reflections  on  the  Christian  idolators,  who  inflicted 
the  injury.  Charley  seemed  disposed  to  speak ;  but  an- 
other ship  passing,  Alick  directed  his  attention  to  it,  and 
after  a  little  more  talk  with  the  prejudiced  Ben-Melchor, 
he  carried  Charley  back  to  his  mother,  and  promised  to 
call  for  him  again  in  the  afternoon. 

Nothing  had  ever  before  so  touched  him  as  this  little 
child's  conversation.  The  youth  of  his  teacher  threw 
him  completely  off  his  guard,  and  he  longed  to  read  the 
Bible  with  him :  to  see  that  little,  dimpled  finger  point- 
inof  alone;  the  lines  as  he  read,  and  resting  under  words 
that  most  forcibly  conveyed  his  meaning :  to  hear  the 
lisping  tongue  confessing  and  glorifying  Him  who  had 
been  referred  to  by  the  Gunner,  and  now  seemed  clearly  set 
forth  as  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Alick's  heart  was 
deeply  engaged  in  the  work :  and  without  being  aware  of 
t  himself,  he  was  following  on  to  know  the  Lord. 


CHAPTER  VI 


When  the  hour  arrived  for  again  summoning  Charley  on 
deck,  Alick   Cohen  felt  a   little  shy  of  approaching  the 
cabin  door  ;  anticipating  from   the  mother  something  in 
the  way  of  instruction,  which  he  was  better  inclined  to 
seek,  or  rather  to  accept  from  the  child.     In  this  he  was 
mistaken :  Mrs.  Ryan  was  gifted  with   that  rare  wisdom 
which  can  discriminate  in  the  matter  of  spiritual  teaching, 
and  rightly  judge  what  particular  mode  will  best  suit  the 
character  of  the  individual.     She  had  listened  with  won- 
der  and  delight  to  Charley's  relation  of  what  had  passed, 
ending  with  the  discovery  made  by  the  shrewd  little  fel- 
low from  Ben-Melchor's  conversation,  that  Alick  was  the 
bold  protester  whose  Maltese  adventure  was  already  well 
known.     From  the  latter  circumstance  she  rightly  gather- 
ed that  young  Cohen  was  of  a  manly,  determined,  and  very 
independent  turn  ;  and  that  he  would  probably  not  relish 
the  idea  of  female  dictation.     Accordingly  she  resolved  to 
leave  the  matter  as  it  stood,  earnestly  praying  that  her  lit- 
tle son  might  be   made  a  partaker  in   the  blessedness  of 
conveying  a  blessing  to  one  of  God's  peculiar  people. 

She  could  not,  however,  conceal  from  Alick  the  affec- 
tionate interest  thus  excited   in  her  mind  j  there  was  a 


64  judah's  lion. 

cordiality  of  manner  so  marked,  a  tenderness  so  maternal 
in  the  look  with  which  she  regarded  him,  when  he  present- 
ed himself  at  the  door,  which  Charley  flung  wide  open  at 
his  first  approach,  that  Alick,  who  had  been  much  petted 
at  home,  could  not  resist  its  influence.  With  the  frank- 
ness of  a  school-boy,  and  the  politeness  of  a  gentleman,  he 
said,  '  Will  you  allow  me  the  pleasure,  ma'am,  of  escort- 
ing you  also  on  deck  ^  you  would  find  it  refreshing,  and 
perfectly  safe.  Besides,  we  are  likely  to  come  within 
view  of  Cape  Matapan  before  night,  and  you  will  like  to 
take  a  look  at  the  southernmost  point  of  Europe,  I  dare 
say.' 

'  Thank  you,  Mr.  Cohen  ;  but  this  evening  I  must  de- 
vote to  finishing  some  papers  that  my  dear  husband  wishes 
me  to  transcribe.  To-morrow,  if  I  may  then  plead  your 
present  kind  willingness  to  take  charge  of  us  both,  I  shall 
greatly  enjoy  going  on  deck.' 

'  Could  I  be  of  any  use  to  you,  ma'am,  in  the  writing 
way  ?  I  am  terribly  idle ;  and  it  really  is  a  charitable 
act  to  give  me  something  to  do.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  smiled  ;  '  Come  in,  and  I  will  tax  your  inge- 
nuity to  help  me  out  of  a  dilemma.' 

With  great  alacrity  Alick  obeyed ;  and  she  showed  him 
her  writing-desk,  completely  set  fast  by  the  wrenching  of 
a  hinge,  so  that  she  could  not  open  it  beyond  a  few  inches. 
'Oh,  carpentering  is  as  great  a  hobby  to  me  as  nursing: 
so,  Charley,  just  reach  me  that  chisel.'  The  desk  was 
righted  in  a  very  short  time,  and  the  amateur  carpenter 
seated  himself,  saying,  'Now,  ma'am,  by  way  of  a  remu- 
neration, will  you  be  pleased  to  tell  me  something  I  am 
very  curious  to  know  V 

'  Surely  :  that  is,  if  I  am  better  informed  myself.' 

'  Why,  then,  I  happened  to  get  a  peep  just  now  into 
the  captain's  cabin ;  and  there,  to  my  surprise,  I  saw  what 


JUDAH^S  LION.  65 

my  friend  Charley  would  call  an  ugly  over-dressed  little 
doll,  with  a  lamp  before  it,  though  the  sun  shone  brightly 
on  its  tinselled  petticoats.  Now,  as  I  know  there  are  no 
children  on  board  except  this  young  gentleman,  I  am 
puzzled ;  and  Iialf  afraid  we  are  under  the  command  of  a 
person  not  right  in  his  mind.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  colored  very  deeply,  and  before  she  could 
speak,  Charley  cried  out,  '  Oh,  that  ugly  doll  is  the  Vir- 
gin Mary.' 

'  Hush,  hush,  my  love ;  not  so  loud,'  said  his  mother. 
'  Unhappily,  Mr.  Cohen,  your  surmise  is  so  far  correct 
that  the  captain,  and  probably  all  his  crew,  are  possessed 
with  the  spiritual  madness  of  idol- worship.  Did  you  not 
see  somethinof  of  it  in  Malta  V 

'  Yes,  but  not  like  this,'  replied  Alick,  his  countenance 
becoming  overcast  as  his  recent  perplexities  about  Christi- 
anity suddenly  recurred  to  his  mind.  'I  was  knocked 
down  in  Malta  the  other  day  for  not  taking  off  my  hat  to  a 
bit  of  biscuit ;  and  if  they  require  me  to  show  any  respect  to 
the  doll,  I  am  in  a  fair  way  of  being  knocked  overboard ; 
fordo  it  I  won't.' 

Charley  laughed,  and  rubbing  his  hands :  '  That's  right, 
Mr.  Alfred;  we  are  Protestant  boys,  ain't  we,  mamma"?' 

'  Say  Alick,  not  Alfred,  my  lad ;  or  I  shall  suffer  mar- 
tyrdom under  a  wrong  name-' 

Mrs.  Ryan  looked  sad :  '  Martyrdom  has  indeed  been 
the  lot  of  many  and  many  a  one  who,  like  you,  protested 
against  these  fearful  idolatries ;  but  who  shall  find  grace 
to  be  a  martyr  in  the  spirit  of  Him  through  whom  alone 
we  can  conquer  not  only  the  fear  of  temporal,  but  the 
power  of  eternal  death  V 

'  Well,  ma'am,  at  any  rate  I  am  glad  we  agree  in  detest- 
ing these  things.     Now,  shall  I  take  Charley  on  deck  1  re- 
membering that  you  are  to  be  of  our  party  to-morrow.' 
7 


66  judah's  lion. 

After  many  thanks,  he  was  allowed  to  depart,  and  Char- 
ley, who  seemed  in  riotous  spirits,  amused  him  so  much 
that  he  soon  forgot  his  vexation,  for  such  it  really  was.  He 
exceedingly  liked  Mrs.  Ryan,  and  wished  to  be  sociable  5 
but  this  idol-worship  among  Christians  was  a  continual 
check  on  his  warm  feelings.  He  hated  it  with  a  Jewish 
hatred,  grounded  on  his  apprehension  of  the  Divine  Being, 
as  set  forth  in  the  writings  of  Moses  ;  and  he  could  not  be- 
lieve that  two  parties  professing  the  same  faith,  really  dif- 
fered so  irreconcileably  on  the  most  vital  point  as  he  found 
the  Romanists  and  Protestants  seemed  to  do.  He  resolved 
to  pump  Charley  to  the  utmost ;  but  the  little  boy,  like 
all  children,  had  his  frolicsome  moods  ;  and  what  with  his 
droll  remarks,  enriched  by  a  pretty  brogue,  his  innocent 
questions  about  all  that  he  saw,  and  the  romping  play  that 
required  no  small  attention  to  keep  him  from  danger,  he 
put  any  serious  discourse  out  of  the  question.  Alick,  too, 
was  both  boyish  and  light-hearted ;  so  the  whole  time 
would  have  been  lost,  had  not  the  appearance  of  Josef 
BenMelchor  with  his  face  turned  towards  Jerusalem,  and 
evidently  praying  in  that  direction,  recalled  the  old  train 
of  thought  too  forcibly  to  be  repressed. 

*  Charley,  Charley,'  cried  Alick,  as  the  Jew  moved  off, 
'  come  here  ;  be  quiet,  do,  for  a  moment,  and  tell  me  again 
those  two  lines  you  repeated  in  the  morning.' 

*  What  two  lines  V 

*  About  the  cedars  waving  on  Lebanon.' 

The  right  chord  was  touched ;  Charley  sprang  on  his 
knee,  threw  his  arm,  as  before,  round  his  neck,  and 
shaking  his  head  from  side  to  side,  as  he  sorrowfully 
looked  in  his  friend's  face,  slowly  chanted: 

'  The  cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.' 


judah's  lion.  67 

'  Where  did  you  learn  that,  Charley  V 

'I'll  tell  you.  There  was  a  meeting  for  the  Jews,  you 
know,  in  Cork,  and  so  we  went  to  it.  Papa  was  making 
a  speech,  and  he  said  those  lines,  and  some  more  to  them; 
and  some  ladies  cried ;  and  I  thought  them  so  pretty,  I 
asked  papa  to  teach  them  to  me.  1  was  but  a  little  thing 
then,'  added  Charley,  with  an  important  look,  'and  didn't 
know  much  ;  so  papa  talked  a  deal  to  me  about  the  Jews ; 
and  ever  since  I  have  been  studying,  that  I  might  be  a 
missionary  to  the  poor  dear  Jews.' 

'  And  how  long  ago  was  that,  Mr.  Missionary  V 

'  A  great  long  time  ;  almost  a  year.  Papa  and  mam- 
ma were  abroad  before  that ;  and  now  they  are  abroad 
again,  and  I  too.' 

'  Is  your  papa  a  clergyman  1' 

'  Oh,  no  ;  he  is  a  half-pay  officer.' 

'How  odd!'  thought  Alick.  '  Here's  an  officer  going 
out  to  look  after  us,  and  a  six-year  old,  by  way  of  a  mis- 
sionary, to  preach  to  us.  Well,  Charley,  can  you  repeat 
any  more  lines  1' 

'  Not  all.  Mamma  says  a  bad  man  wrote  them,  and  she 
would  rather  I  learned  a  hymn:  but  I'll  tell  you  the  last 
verse — it  is  so  sad,  and  so  pretty !'  And  then,  with  a  wild 
sort  of  pathos  he  recited  it : — 

'  But  we  must  wander  witheringly, 

In  other  lands  to  die; 
And  where  our  fathers'  ashes  be 

Our  own  must  never  lie  ; 
Our  temple  hath  not  left  a  stone ; 
And  mockery  sits  on  Salem's  throne  !' 

'  Pho  !  pho !'  said  Alick,  hastily  turning  his  head  away, 
as  if  to  deny  to  himself  that  the  tear  which  was  ready  to 
start  could  have  been  called  up  by  a  few  lines  of  poetry 
repeated  by  a  child. 


68  judah's  lion. 

'  Why  then,  Mr.  Alick,  it  is  a  shame  of  you  to  say  pho ! 
pho !  and  you  a  Jew.  Ah  !  but  it's  all  truth,  for  the  Lord 
Jesus  said  they  would  not  leave  one  stone  upon  another 
in  the  temple  that  shouldn't  be  thrown  down  ;  and  down 
they  all  came  ;  and  Jerusalem, — and — and — oh,  the  wick- 
ed cruel  Turks  do  mock  the  poor  Jews,  when  they  go  on 
a  Friday  to  sit  and  weep  under  a  broken  bit  of  the  old 
wall :  so  that's  mockery  on  Salem's  throne,  isn't  it  V 

'What  fairy-tale  have  you  been  reading  V 

'I  never  read  fairy-tales :  the  poor  Papists  at  home  be* 
lieve  in  fairies,  but  I  know  better.' 

'Perhaps  the  Captain's  doll  is  a  fairy,  Charles  V 

'  No,  it's  the  Virgin  Mary — they  call  her  the  mother  of 
God.' 

'They  lie  !'  exclaimed  Alick,  vehemently. 

'So  they  do:  she  wasn't  the  mother  of  God,  how  could 
she  hel  she  was  the  mother  of  Jesus,' 

'  Yet  you  said  in  the  morning  that  Jesus  was  God.' 

'  He  is  God,  and  he  is  man,'  said  Charles,  firmly :  '  and 
Mary  was  his  mother  when  he  was  made  man :  but  as 
God,  he  could  not  have  a  mother.' 

'  Well,  I  do  wonder  to  hear  such  a  slip  of  a  boy  talk 
like  ari  old  bishop  in  a  wig.' 

'  I  was  taught  it,  Mr.  Alick,  as  soon  as  I  could  think  at 
all  ;  for  you  see,  there's  lots  of  Popery  at  our  place,  near 
Cork  ;  and  papa  and  mamma  always  talk  to  the  poor  peo- 
ple about  their  foolish  religion ;  so  I  heard  it  every  day 
almost,  and  I  must  be  stupid  indeed  not  to  know  it  before 
now.' 

Here  there  was  a  pause.  Charley  had  become  as  grave 
and  as  intellectual-looking  as  ever,  and  seemed  perfectly 
ready  for  any  discussion ;  but  Alick  knew  not  what  to 
say  to  him.  All  on  a  sudden  he  saw  his  father's  head 
emerging  from  below,  as  he  slowly  ascended  the  ladder  5 


JUDAIl's  LION.  69 

30  after  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  he  whispered  to  Char- 
ley, in  a  very  decided  tone,  '  Now  don't  say  one  single 
word  about  any  of  these  things  before  that  gentleman — 
my  father — or  you  will  make  him  very  angry  ;  and  then 
perhaps  I  shan't  play  with  you  any  more.' 

Wondering,  and  half-frightened,  the  little  boy  looked 
up,  expecting  to  see  a  very  alarming  person  j  but  Mr. 
Cohen,  delighted  to  find  his  son  in  such  safe  company, 
smiled  on  him,  patted  his  head,  and  began  to  talk  very 
pleasantly  to  him,  while  Alick  admired  his  discreet  re- 
plies, when  questioned  about  his  parents,  his  destination, 
and  so  forth.  '  We  must  show  some  attention  to  his 
mother,'  said  Mr.  Cohen. 

Alick  assented  ;  related  the  adventure  of  the  desk,  and 
then  led  to  other  topics. 

When  night  closed,  and  he  was  alone,  on  his  temporary 
couch,  looking  up  to  the  cloudless  sky  with  its  myriad 
lamps,  he  recalled  the  events  of  the  day,  and  regretted  the 
unsatisfactory  close  of  his  conversation  with  little  Charley. 
He  thought  again  and  again  of  the  sealed  book,  that  none 
could  open  but  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  5  and  heart- 
ily did  he  wish  for  the  lamp  that  was  so  idly  flaming  be- 
fore the  Captain's  idol.  Suddenly  he  recollected  that  the 
strict  rules  of  a  man-of-war  did  not  apply  to  such  vessels 
as  the  one  he  was  in ;  and  going  to  the  helmsman  he  in- 
quired, in  Italian,  if  he  might  have  the  use  of  a  light.  He 
was  directed  where  to  find  a  lantern,  and  securing  it  to 
the  ship's  side  against  which  he  lay,  he  opened  at  the 
book  of  Revelations,  and  read  the  first  five  chapters  ;  than 
which  the  Bible  does  not  contain  a  more  awakening,  en- 
couraging, and  instructive  portion.  Its  unmeasured  sub- 
limity enraptured  him :  he  did  not,  he  would  not  admit  it 
was  of  divine  authority,  and  had  the  book  been  his  own, 
he  would  gladly  have  torn  it  from  between  the  covers  that 
7* 


70  JITDAH  S  LION. 

enclosed  the  writings  of  Moses  and   the  Prophets ;  but 
though  the  word,  not  being  mixed  with  faith,  did  not  then 
profit  him  savingly,  it  impressed  him  more  than  anything 
he  had  ever  before  read.     He  was  much  struck  by  the 
expression,  '  He  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true  ;  he  that  hath 
the  key  of  David  ;  he  that  openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth ; 
and  shutteth,  and  no  man  openeth.'     It  was  evident  to 
Alick  that  this  passage  fully  sanctioned  little   Charley's 
doctrine  of  the  key  of  heaven,  even  more  than   the  text 
the  child  had  referred  to  in  the  first  chapter.     The  very 
wrong  translation  into  '  beasts'   in  the  fourth  chapter,  of 
what  should  be  rendered  '  living  creatures,'   perplexed 
him :  but  the   fifth   almost  conquered   his   unbelief,   so 
strongly  did   he  feel  impelled  to  join  in  the  ascription  of 
praise  to  '  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,'  the  'Lamb 
as  it  had  been  slain.'     Again  and  again  he  read  that  chap- 
ter ;  then,  pressing  the  closed  book  to  his  forehead  as  he 
laid  himself  down,  he  mentally  said,  '  If  I  could  fancy? 
like  Gordon,  that  all  these  things  are  true,  and  that  they 
concerned  me,  how  little  should  I  care  which  way  the 
world  went  with  me  !     If,  like  Charley,  I  was  sure  that  I 
had  a  friend  in  him  who  keeps  the  key  to  all  these  glorious 
sights  and  sounds,  it  would  be  a  small  matter  by  what  sort 
of  a  road  I  was  proceeding  towards  such  a  home.     Well, 
every  part  of  this  book  that  I  have  read  lulls  me  like  soft 
music  ;  and  I'll   read  it  oftencr,   particularly  at   night.' 
He  soon  slept,  and  his  first  waking  thought  was  of  the 
promised  visit  of  Mrs.  Eyan  on  deck. 

Mr.  Cohen  felt  unwell ;  the  sea  never  agreed  with  him 
—and  Alick  had  his  friends  to  himself.  He  found  the 
lady  had  been  a  traveller,  as  Charley  had  told  him  be- 
fore ;  and  in  that  quarter  too  ;  and  from  her  he  gained  a 
good  deal  of  information  respecting  the  places  he  was 


judah's  lion.  71 

about  to  visit.     At  length  Jerusalem  was  named,  and  he 
inquired  whether  she  had  been  there. 

'  I  have  not ;  but  my  husband  has  twice,  I  do  humbly 
hope  in  the  spirit  of  his  blessed  Master,  "  beheld  the  city, 
and  wept  over  it."  Jerusalem  is  indeed  a  desolation,  and 
Zion  trodden  under  foot.' 

'  Pardon  me,  but  may  I  ask  to  whom  you  alluded  as 
being  Captain  Ryan's  master  V 

The  lady  and  her  child  both  answered  in  the  same 
breath,  '  Jesus  Christ.' 

*  Did  he  weep  over  Jerusalem  ?  why  1  surely  it  was 
not  desolate  in  his  time.' 

Here  was  a  leading  question  from  a  Jew  !  Mrs.  Ryan 
closed  her  eyes,  and  her  lip  moved  in  secret  prayer ;  but 
before  she  could  speak,  Charley  thrust  his  hand  into  the 
little  pocket  of  his  stuff  frock-coat,  and  with  great  bustle 
drew  out  a  small  Testament,  saying,  '  I'll  show  you  why 
he  wept,  and  what  he  said.' 
'  What  is  that  little  book  1' 

'  The  New  Testament :  it's  the  same  you  have  got  in 
your  Bible.' 

'  They  ought  never  to  be  separate,'  observed  Mrs, 
Ryan  ;  while  Alick,  in  his  heart,  thought  they  should 
never  have  been  joined  together.  Charley  soon  found 
the  words  his  mother  had  referred  to,  "  And  when  he  was 
come  near,  he  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it,  saying, 
If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day, 
the  things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace  !  but  now  they 
are  hid  from  thine  eyes.  For  the  days  shall  come  upon 
thee  that  thine  enemies  shall  casta  trench  about  thee,  and 
compass  thee  in  on  every  side,  and  shall  lay  thae  even 
with  the  ground,  and  thy  children  within  thee  ;  and  they 
shall  not  leave  in  thee  one  stone  upon  another  ;  because 
thou  knewest  not  the  time  of  thy  visitation." 

Alick  had  spontaneously  taken  the  little  fellow  on  his 


72  judah's  lion. 

knee,  as  soon  as  he  opened  the  book ;  and  while  Charley 
read  aloud  and  pointed,  as  usual,  along  the  lines,  he  closely 
marked  every  letter  of  every  word.  Mrs.  Ryan  gazed  on 
them,  as  well  she  might ;  for  it  was  a  lovely  spectacle. 
The  child's  soft,  rosy  cheek  almost  rested  on  the  dark  clear 
olive  of  his  companion's  :  the  golden  locks  shone  as  they 
mingled  with  Alick's  raven  clusters;  and  when,  at  the  close 
of  the  passage,  Charley  raised  his  eyes,  of  the  mildest 
hazel,  yet  remarkably  strong  and  bold  in  their  ex- 
pression, to  meet  the  keen,  eagle-gaze  of  the  young 
Jew,  whose  jet-black  eyes  sparkled  with  eagerness  to 
gather  all  the  information  his  little  teacher  could  impart, 
her  heart  yearned  over  them,  and  she  inwardly  pleaded 
with  the  King  of  the  Jews  that  immutable  word,  respect- 
ing his  loved,  but  wandering  Israel,  ''  Even  so  have 
these  also  now  not  beheved,  that  through  your  mercy 
they  also  may  obtain  mercy."  She  recalled  the  hour 
when  the  little  one,  resting  on  his  father's  knee,  had 
made  his  first  request  to  be  brought  up  'a  Missionary  to 
the  Jews :'  she  remembered  that  to  deepen  the  feelings  of 
his  young  heart  towards  Israel,  they  had  decided  on  making 
him  the  companion  of  their  present  voluntary  labor  in 
that  glorious  cause  :  and  she  owned,  in  the  depth  of  a 
grateful  heart,  that  her  babe  was  at  that  moment  exercis- 
ing the  office  to  which  they  had  looked  forward  on  his  be- 
half through  a  long  vista  of  years. 

'  You  see,  Mr.  Alick,'  said  Charley,  '  what  the  Lord 
said :  and  that  was  ever  so  many  years  before  the  wicked 
Romans  destroyed  Jerusalem,  and  every  word  came  true.' 

'  It  certainly  did,'  answered  Alick ;  '  and  if  really 
spoken  before  the  event,  it  was  a  remarkable  prophecy. 
But  now,  Charley,  I'll  puzzle  you.  You  told  me  this 
Jesus  was  God :  if  so,  he  had  power  to  prevent  the  ruin 
of  our  city  ;  and  if  he  had  the  will  to  prevent  it,  why  did 


JUDAn's  LION.  73 

he  not  1  and  if  he  did  not  choose  to  hinder  its  destruc- 
tion, why  did  he  weep  about  it  V 

Charley  looked  sadly  at  a  loss  :  and  Alick  smiled  at  his 
supposed  easy  victory.  Stroking  the  child's  face,  he  was 
going  to  say  something  playful,  but  Charley  hastily  said, 
'  No,  no,  don't  laugh.  I  know  that  it  is  all  true  ;  but  ask 
Mamma,  and  she  will  tell  you  how  it  is  all  true.' 

Alick  looked  at  Mrs.  Ryan,  who  remarked,  '  I  will  re- 
fer Mr.  Cohen  to  the  prophets  for  a  solution  of  the  diffi- 
culty, if  he  has  his  Bible  here ;'  and  he  produced  it  im- 
mediately. She  showed  him  first  Ezekiel  xxxiii.  10,  11. 
"  Therefore,  0  thou  Son  of  Man,  speak  unto  the  house  of 
Israel,  thus  ye  speak,  saying,  If  our  transgressions  and  our 
sins  be  upon  us,  and  we  pine  away  in  them,  how  should 
we  then  live  1  Say  unto  them,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord 
God,  1  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked  ;  but 
that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live  :  Turn  ye, 
turn  ye  from  your  evil  ways ;  for  why  will  ye  die,  O 
house  of  Israel  1"  Then  turning  to  Luke  xiii.  34,  she 
made  him  read,  "  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  which  killest 
the  prophets,  and  stonest  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee  ; 
how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  as 
a  hen  doth  gather  her  brood  under  her  wings,  and  ye 
would  not !  Behold  your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate  : 
and  verily  I  say  unto  you,  ye  shall  not  see  me,  until  the 
time  come  when  ye  shall  say.  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord."  When  he  concluded,  she 
asked,  '  Do  you  not  perceive  an  agreement  between  the 
various  passages  we  have  looked  at  V 

'  Why,  yes,  I  do.  Here  is  a  declaration  that  God  is 
unwilling  the  house  of  Israel  should  die  ;  and  to  prevent 
it,  he  bids  them  turn  from  their  evil  ways — I  suppose  be- 
cause justice  required  their  punishment  if  they  did  not. 
Then,  in  the  other  place,  we  find  one,  who,  according  to 
you,  is  God,  lamenting  that  they  had  finally  refused  to 


74<  judah's  lion. 

obey  his  call.  So  the  punishment,  I  suppose,  was  inevi- 
table.' 

'  And  would  not  he,  who  had  implored  them  to  turn 
that  they  might  live,  be  grieved  that  they  had,  by  refus- 
ing to  the  last,  compelled  him  to  smite  them  V 

Alick  was  silent :  pride,  equally  with  unbelief,was  striv- 
ing against  the  humbling  truth  ;  but  Mrs.  Ryan  saw  him 
slily  turning  down  the  edges  of  the  leaves  at  the  different 
passages,  and  rejoiced  to  think  he  would  study  them  when 
alone.     At  last  he  spoke  : 

'  Pray  don't  think  me  rude  or  ungrateful  for  your  kind 
wish  to  teach  me  :  but  I  cannot  see  these  things  as  you 
do,  and  I  won't  be  a  hypocrite.' 

'  You  must  pray,'  said  Charley,  '  and  say  as  king  David 
did,  "  Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  thy  law."  ' 

'  How  do  you  know  that  king  David  said  so  V 

'  Here  it  is,  Psalm  cxix.  18  ;'  and  Alick  marked  that 
also. 

The  sun  was  now  near  setting,  and  some  little  stir  was 
made  on  deck,  which  attracted  their  attention :  the 
captain  took  the  helm  ;  the  crew  gathered  round,  one 
man  being  employed  in  mending  a  sail,  others  picking 
oakum,  splicing  a  rope,  and  such  like  incidental  occupa- 
tions, or  leaning  on  the  ship's  side  ;  while  two  cabin- 
boys  placed  themselves  at  a  little  distance.  All  at  once 
they  broke  out  into  a  beautiful  chant,  the  deep  mellow 
bass  of  the  men  being  answered  by  the  sweet  soprano  of 
the  two  boys  ;  and  altogether  the  effect  was  equally  fine 
as  unexpected.  Alick,  who  delighted  in  music,  would 
have  listened  with  unmixed  pleasure,  had  not  the  expres- 
sion of  Mrs.  Ryan's  countenance  inform.ed  him  that  she 
was  greatly  pained :  he  attended  to  catch  the  words, 
which  were  Latin ;  and  quickly  made  out  their  purport. 
It  was  the  Litany  of  Loretto. 


judah's  lion.  75 

Happily,  perhaps,  for  Alick,  his  father  had  been  at- 
tracted by  those  harmonious  sounds,  and  came  on  deck 
just  as  his  passion  was  rising.  He  at  once  saw  the  danger 
of  provoking  any  rebuke,  as  Mrs.  Ryan  would  surely  take 
part  with  him,  and  so  lead  to  another  prohibition.  He, 
therefore,  turned  to  the  sea,  leaning  over  the  bulwarks, 
where  he  sat,  and  feasting  his  eyes  on  the  glorious  splen- 
dors of  a  Mediterranean  sunset.  The  lofty  sky,  unblem- 
ished by  a  single  cloud  ;  the  bright  orb  sinking  to  rest  in 
its  majestic  beauty  ;  the  sparkling  sea,  strewn  as  it  were 
with  diamonds  on  a  surface  of  the  purest  blue ;  and,  far 
distant,  some  dark  rocky  outlines  just  varying  the  hori- 
zontal line  ;  while  vessels,  like  white  sea-birds,  gleamed 
here  and  there  to  give  life  to  all  the  loveliness  around 
them — this  was  the  view  calculated  to  fill  his  heart  with 
high  imaginings  of  the  divine  power,  if  not  with  thankful 
acknowledgments  of  divine  love,  while,  despite  himself, 
his  ear  drank  in  the  sounds  of  base,  degrading,  idolatrous 
worship,  ascribing  to  a  creature,  to  a  woman,  the  attri- 
butes of  Deity  itself.  The  prefatory  anthem  was  sung  ; 
'  We  fly  to  thy  patronage,  O  holy  mother  of  God,  despise 
■not  our  petitions  in  our  necessities,  but  deliver  us  from  all 
dangers,  O  ever-glorious  and  blessed  Virgin  !'  &c.,  &c. 

Then  followed  some  supplicatory  sentences,  run  over 
with  incredible  volubility,  and  next  the  famous  string  of 
blasphemous  titles,  chanted  forth  by  the  captain,  each  being 
answered  by  the  '  Ora  pro  Nobis,'  of  the  rest.  Alick 
heard  them  all  as  follows.  '  Holy  Mary — Holy  Mother 
of  God — Holy  Virgin  of  virgins — Mother  of  Christ — 
Mother  of  divine  grace — Mother  most  pure — Mother 
most  chaste  —  Mother  undefiled  —  Mother  inviolate  — 
Mother  most  amiable — Mother  most  admirable — mother 
OF  oiTR  CREATOR — Mother  ofour  Redeemer — Virgin  most 
prudent — Virgin  most  venerable — Virgin  most  renowned 
—Virgin  most  powerful — Virgin  most  merciful — Virgin 


76  judah's  lion. 

most  faithful — Mirror  of  Justice — Seat  of  wisdom — Cause 
of  our  joy — Spiritual  vessel — Vessel  of  honor — Vessel  of 
sino-ular  devotion — Mystical  rose — Tower  of  David — 
Tower  of  Ivory — House  of  gold — ark  of  the  covenant 
— Gate  of  heaven — morning  star — Health  of  the  weak 
— REFUGE  OF  SINNERS — Comfort  of  the  afflicted — Help  of 
Christians — Queen  of  angels — Queen  of  patriarchs — 
Queen  of  prophets — Queen  of  apostles — Queen  of  martyrs 
— Queen  of  confessors — Queen  of  virgins — Queen  of  all 
saints,' — and  between  each  still  came  the  melodious 
chorus,  '  Ora  pro  Nobis !' 

'  Christianity !'  thought  Alick,  '  what  kind  of  heathen- 
ism can  be  more  degrading  than  this  1     A  Christian  I 
never  will  be,  so  to  dishonor  and  blaspheme  Him  whose 
hand  spread  out  all  this  watery  expanse  around  me,  and 
stretched  yonder  blue  arch  over  me,  and  is  now  guiding 
that  bright  orb  to  enlighten  another  hemisphere,  and  then 
to  revisit  us  again.     God  of  my  fathers  !  keep  me  from 
such  a  sin !'     He  raised  his  eyes,  and  met  those  of  Josef, 
who  was  evidently  watching  him ;  and  who,  turning  a 
look  of  supreme  contempt  on  the  group,  with  a  special 
glance  at  Mrs,  Ryan,  muttered  in  a  whisper,  '  Such  are 
they  all !     Not  content  with  worshipping  the  crucified, 
they  give   divine   glory  to  the  woman  his  mother,  the 
fishermen   his   followers,   and  to  every  knave  who  has 
helped  to  spread  the  lie  among  them.'     He  then  walked 
away  ;  but  his  remark  had  affected  Alick  differently  from 
what  he  intended.     Conscience  told  him  that  Mrs.  Ryan 
certainly  dissented,  as  cordially  as  he  did,  from  these  idol- 
atries, and  that  they  ought  not  to  be  charged  upon  her 
individually.     He  rather  inclined  to  think  that  there  was 
a  small  body  whose  natural  sense  enabled  them  to  throw 
off  the  grosser  parts  of  the  general  system,  which,  from 
the  countenance  given  to  it  in  Malta,  he  concluded  to  be 


^ITDAH^S    LION.  77 

that  of  acknowledged  Christianity.  He  came  to  the  re- 
solution of  fairly  and  unreservedly  talking  the  matter  out 
with  Mrs.  Ryan,  and  as  they  expected  to  be  yet  five  days 
at  sea,  he  hoped  for  sufficient  time  to  do  it.  Meanwhile, 
his  father  had  entered  into  conversation  with  that  lady,  in 
reference  to  the  classic  Isles  of  Greece,  among  which  they 
had  to  steer  their  way,  and  the  approach  to  which  had 
roused  his  poetical  feelings.  He  found  her  so  well-in- 
formed, so  agreeable,  and  so  perfectly  the  lady,  that  on 
parting  with  his  son  at  night,  he  warmly  commended  his 
taste  in  choosing  such  society,  spoke  very  slightingly  of 
Ben-Melchor,  and  gently  cautioned  Alick  to  avoid  of- 
fensively noticing  the  '  harmless  absurdities*  of  the  Captain 
and  his  crew. 


CHAPTER    VIL 


"  If  any  man  among  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of 
God,  who  giveth  unto  all  men  liberally  and  upbraideth 
not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him."  We  are  naturally  desti- 
tute of  this  heaven-descended  wisdom,  and  habitually  neg- 
ligent in  asking  it.  Happy  are  they  who,  like  A  lick 
Cohen,  fall  in  with  a  teacher  whose  conduct  presents  an 
exception  to  this  general  rule  ! 

Mrs.  Ryan  had  no  fixed  plan  of  proceeding  with  those 
who,  in  the  course  of  events,  were  brought  before  her :  she 
knew  that  each  one  is  a  little  world  in  himself,  with  many 
distinctive  peculiarities  in  his  character,  views,  circum- 
stances, which  render  it  impossible  for  the  eye  of  a  casual 
observer  to  penetrate  the  veil  of  outward  conformity  to 
the  habits  of  those  about  him.  Accordingly  she  was  ac* 
customed  to  ask  help  in  studying  individuals  as  such :  and 
direction  in  dealing  with  them.  She  had  closely  watched 
Alick,  during  their  brief  interviews,  and  remarked  in  him 
that  freshness  of  feeling,  and  energy  of  thought,  which 
are  always  delightful  to  deal  with,  when  the  person  seek- 
ing to  do  good  is  not  cramped  by  rules,  and  fettered  to 
systems.  She  had  marked  his  ill-suppressed  emotion 
when  listening  to  the  blasphemous  Litany,  and  rejoiced 


judah's  lion.  79 

that  her  task  was  not  to  rouse  a  cold  indifferent  mind,  but 
to  direct  into  the  right  path  one  evidently  on  the  stir,  and 
perplexed  by  the  crossings  that  beset  his  way.  Thought 
and  prayer  brought  her  to  the  decision  that  she  ought  to 
take  into  her  own  hands  what  little  Charley  had  begun, 
and  when  they  met  on  deck  the  following  day,  she  lost 
no  time  in  commencing. 

'  Well,  Mr.  Cohen,  have  your  thoughts  been  travelling 
with  the  ship,  eastward,  towards  the  land  of  your  fa- 
thers V 

'Indeed,  Ma'am,  they  have.  You  must  know  that  yes- 
terday, I  marked  down  several  of  the  passages  that  you 
directed  me  to  when  we  were  talking ;  indeed,  all  of 
them  :  and  I  have  been  reading  them  over,  with  a  great 
deal  besides.  I  got  little  sleep  last  night,  what  with 
poring  over,  and  pondering  on  the  Bible.' 

'  Then  you  will  know  the  blessedness  of  which  king 
David  speaks,'  remarked  Mrs.  Ryan,  turning  to  the  first 
Psalm.  'See  his  description  of  the  happy  man :  "His 
delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  :  in  his  law  doth  he 
meditate,  day  and  night."  What  is  the  result  of  your 
study  V 

*  I  have  found  out  that  I  am  very  ignorant.' 

'  I  rejoice  to  hear  it,  my  dear  young  friend.  When 
God  is  about  to  teach  his  children,  he  begins  by  showing 
them  how  greatly  they  need  such  instruction.  But  on 
what  point  is  your  ignorance  made  so  manifest  V 

'  On  every  point  connected  with  this  book  ;  but  chiefly 
as  it  concerns  my  own  people,  who  seem  to  be  the  main 
subject  of  it ;  for  I  cannot  turn  over  two  leaves  without 
meeting  with  the  words  Israel,  Zion,  and  so  forth.  I  have 
heard  it  whispered  to  my  father,'  he  added,  smiling,  '  that 
reading  the  Bible  would  make  me  a  Christian :  it  is  more 
likely  to  make  me  doubly  a  Jew.' 


80  — '"' 


JUDAH  S    LION. 


'  My  dear  husband  would  be  delighted  to  hear  you  say 
that.  He  is  very  jealous  for  the  nationality  of  your  race, 
and  asserts  that  a  Jew  who  embraces  Christianity  is  three 
times  a  Jew.  An  Israelite  according  to  the  flesh,  an 
Israelite  according  to  the  faith,  and  an  Israelite  according 
to  the  territorial  promise.' 

'  I  am  not  going  to  embrace  Christianity,'  said  Alick, 
coloring,  '  but  please  to  tell  me  what  you  mean  by  the 
territorial  promise  V 

*  The  unrevoked,  unrevokeable  assurance  given  to 
Abraham,  that  his  seed  should  possess  the  land  of  Canaan 
as  an  inheritance  for  ever.  An  assurance  confirmed  by 
the  pen  of  prophets  and  apostles,  and  the  fulfilment  of 
which  it  is  sinful  to  doubt.' 

'  Then  you  think  we  shall,  as  a  people,  re-possess 
Judea  V 

'  I  should  hesitate  to  say  that  I  think  we  are  now  at 
sea,  because  I  positively  know  that  we  are :  in  like  man- 
ner, though  not  by  sight  but  by  faith,  I  know  you  will 
again,  as  a  nation,  inherit  the  land,  and  that  your  Jerusa- 
lem shall  be  a  praise  in  the  whole  earth.' 

*  Now  tell  me,  Mrs.  Ryan,'  said  Alick,  earnestly,  '  how 
comes  it  that  while  you  evidently  look  upon  us  as  a  peo- 
ple specially  blessed,  once  the  chief  of  the  nations,  though 
now  so  fallen  and  obscured — while  you  hold  our  book  of 
the  law,  prize  it,  and  frame  your  religion  on  it,  you  should 
still  desire  us  to  forsake  that  religion  1  You,  as  Gentiles, 
cannot  become  Jews  ;  why  do  you  wish  to  make  the  Jew 
a  Gentile  1 — for,  put  it  how  you  will,  Christianity  is  a 
Gentile  religion,  and  therefore  we  cannot  adopt  it  without 
forfeiting  our  privileges  as  Jews.  Now,  pardon  me  if 
what  I  say  oifends  you, — I  read  this  book  at  the  persuasion 
of  Gentiles,  or  at  least  by  their  example  and  through 
their  means :  I  read  passages  of  your  own  pointing  out  j 


JUDAH*S    LION.  81 

and  because  I  felt  deeply,  aye,  personally  interested  in 
them,  I  read  many  a  page  besides.  Hours  and  hours  I 
read ;  and  when  I  show  you  what  I  read,  you  cannot 
blame  me  for  wondering  how  you,  who  know  the  book 
so  well,  should  expect  me,  after  studying  it  even  for  a 
few  hours,  to  descend — that  is,  I  mean — to  remove  from 
my  place,  as  a  descendant  of  Abraham—an  Israelite.' 

He  spoke  the  last  words  emphatically,  and  proceeded 
to  turn  over  the  leaves  of  his  Bible  :  his  hand  trembled, 
and  the  flashing  of  his  eyes  was  singularly  bright.  Mrs. 
Ryan  spoke  not  a  word,  but  gazed  on  him  with  delighted 
interest,  pressing  little  Charley  closer  to  her  bosom,  who, 
seated  on  her  lap,  had  become  drowsy  till  the  altered 
tone  of  Alick's  voice  roused  him,  and  he  too  looked  and 
listened.  The  passage  was  found,  Alick  smiled  triumph- 
antly, lifted  the  book,  threw  back  his  head,  and  with  a 
highly  poetic  effect  read  aloud  these  words,  '  "  Arise  ! 
shine!  for  thy  light  is  come;  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
is  risen  upon  thee.  For  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover 
the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people  :  but  the  Lord 
shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon 
thee."  To  whom  is  this  addressed,  Mrs.  Ryan  "?' 
'  To  the  Jewish  church,  unquestionably.' 
Alick  smiled  again,  and  resumed  ;  '  "  And  the  Gentiles 
shall  come  to  thy  light,  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy 
rising."  It  proceeds  in  the  same  strain  ;  thus,  "  And  the 
sons  of  strangers  shall  build  up  thy  walls,  and  their  kings 
shall  minister  unto  thee  :  for  in  my  wrath  I  smote  thee, 
but  in  my  favor  have  I  had  mercy  on  thee.  Therefore 
thy  gates  shall  be  open  continually  ;  they  shall  not  be 
shut  day  nor  night ;  that  men  may  bring  unto  thee  the 
forces  of  the  Gentiles;  and  that  their  kings  may  be 
brought.  For  the  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve 
thee  shall  perish ;  yea,  those  nations  shall  be  utterly 
8* 


82  judah's  LioNi 

wasted."  Again,  "  The  sons  also  of  them  that  afBicted 
thee  shall  come  bending  unto  thee  ;  and  they  that  de- 
spised thee  shall  bow  themselves  down  at  the  soles  of  thy 
feet ;  aaifl  they  shall  call  thee  the  city  of  the  Lord ;  the 
Zion  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  Whereas  thou  hast  been 
forsaken  and  hated,  so  that  no  man  went  through  thee,  I 
will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  the  joy  of  many 
generations.  Thou  shalt  also  suck  the  milk  of  the  Gen- 
tiles ;  and  shalt  suck  the  breast  of  kings :  and  thou  shalt 
know  that  I  am  thy  Savior,  and  th}-^  Redeemer,  the 
Mighty  one  of  Jacob."  Has  this  ever  been  fulfilled,  Mrs^ 
Ryan  V 

'  Never.' 

'  Will  it  be  V 

'  As  surely  as  yonder  sun  shall  rise  upon  us  to-morrow, 
it  will  be  fulfilled,  literally,  abundantly  fulfilled  to  Israel.' 

He  looked  steadily  at  her,  and  she  met  his  proud  gaze 
with  one  of  affectionate  humility:  then  after  a  moment's 
silence  said,  '  Will  you  listen  patiently  to  me  for  a  few 
minutes,  while  I  strive  to  explain  our  seeming  inconsisten'* 
cies.' 

'  I  will  indeed,  ma'am  ;  and  I  hope  that  in  showing  you 
how  I  must  cherish  this  great  privilege  of  being  a  Jew, 
1  have  not  been  disrespectful  or  rude  to  you.' 

'  Far  from  it :  I  bless  God,  even  the  God  of  Abraham, 
that  he  puts  it  in  your  heart  to  value  these  precious 
words.  But  now  to  my  statement :  you  are  aware  that 
Abraham  was  called  out  of  his  own  country  and  blessed, 
and  had  two  special  promises  made  to  him.  One  was,  that 
his  children  should  possess  the  whole  land  of  Canaan  and 
inherit  it  for  ever  ;  the  other,  that  in  his  seed  should  all  the 
families  of  the  earth  be  blessed.  These  promises  were 
confirmed  to  Isaac,  then  to  Jacob  ;  with  the  further  inti- 
mation that,  of  his  twelve  sons,  Judah  was  one  of  whose 


judah's  lion.  83 

lineage  the  promised  seed,  the  Messiah,  the  Deliverer  and 
King  of  the  whole  earth  should  come.  After  a  long 
while,  Canaan  was  conquered,  and  divided  among  the 
twelve  tribes,  and  they,  in  process  of  time,  became  two 
kingdoms,  known  as  the  kingdoms  of  Judah  and  Israel.' 

'  Pardon  me  for  interrupting  you  ;  but  in  what  historical 
work  can  I  find  all  these  particulars  V 

'  In  the  book  you  hold  in  your  hand  i  I  will  show  you 
everything  distinctly  set  forth.  Judah  and  Benjamin 
united,  formed  the  kingdom  ©f  Judah  ;  the  other  ten  who 
had  first  revolted,  soon  fell  into  idolatry,  and  after  much 
sinful  rebellion  against  the  Lord,  they  were  given  into  the 
hand  of  the  Assyrian,  carried  away  captive,  and  so  scat- 
tered among  the  nations  that  scarcely  a  vestige  visibly  re- 
mains of  them  at  this  day.  Judah,  notwithstanding  this 
fearful  example,  continued  to  sin  in  like  manner,  and  was 
given  up  to  the  Babylonians,  who  destroyed  the  Temple 
of  Solomon,  broke  down  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  car- 
ried Judah  away  captive  into  Babylon,  where  they  re- 
mained seventy  years.  They  were  then  restored  ;  that  is 
to  say,  Judah,  with  a  few  individuals  from  among  Ephraim, 
as  the  ten  tribes  are  called  ;  the  temple  rebuilt,  and  for 
five  hundred  years  the  Jews  repossessed  their  land,  never 
again  relapsing  into  idolatry,  which  had  caused  their  chas- 
tisement. At  length,  the  most  dreadful  calamities  over- 
took them ;  and  after  a  long  period  of  oppression  under 
the  Roman  yoke,  they  were  slaughtered,  or  carried  away 
captive  ;  the  city  razed,  the  land  laid  waste,  and  for  near- 
ly eighteen  hundred  years  has  Judah  been  an  outcast ; 
not  mingled  and  lost  among  other  people,  like  the  ten 
tribes,  but  miraculously  preserved,  to  be  restored  and  re- 
established in  the  sight  of  the  whole  world  by  the  arm  of 
their  Jehovah  ;  who  will  also  collect  and  bring  in  together 
the  scattered  tribes  of  Israel.     This  is  what  we  may  call 


84  jttdah's  lion. 

the  political  history  of  Israel — the  national  experience, 
past  and  to  come,  of  God's  faithfulness  in  the  promise  of 
the  land.  Now  we  arrive  at  another  branch  of  the  sub- 
ject :  the  promise  that  in  Abraham's  seed,  in  the  progeny 
of  Isaac,  Jacob,  Judah,  should  all  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed. 

'  The  great  object  for  which  your  nation  was  so  set 
apart,  was,  that  they  might  be  the  depositories  of  God's 
word,  treasuring  up  his  prophecies,  that  in  their  fulfilment 
he  might  be  openly  glorified.  Laws  were  given,  and  rites 
were  appointed,  every  one  of  which  was  calculated  in  a 
lively  manner  to  keep  the  attention  of  the  people  fixed  on 
the  one  great  object,  the  promised  seed,  the  Messiah, 
whose  office  it  was  to  make  atonement  to  God  for  the  sins 
of  men,  offering  a  sacrifice  that  would  be  a  sufficient  sub- 
stitute for  the  guilty  sinners  whose  misdeeds  had  forfeited 
their  souls,  and  who  stood  exposed  to  the  just  wrath  of 
God.  In  this  sense  he  was  to  be  a  deliverer,  a  blessing 
to  all  the  families  of  the  earth  ;  and  winning  back  the 
world  from  Satan,  he  would  be  acknowledged  as  universal 
king — in  an  especial  manner  king  of  the  Jews,  of  whom, 
after  the  flesh,  he  should  come  :  the  promised  seed  of 
Abraham,  as  to  immediate  Hebrew  descent ;  and  also  the 
promised  seed  of  the  woman — Eve — the  mother  of  all 
flesh.  God,  having  set  apart,  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
mightily  delivered  them  out  of  bondage,  and  made  them 
an  independent  nation,  miraculously  inspired  their  leader 
Moses,  to  write  down  the  marvellous  history  of  the  crea- 
tion, of  man's  sin,  of  the  promised  seed  who  should  bruise 
the  serpent's  head,  and  of  all  his  marvellous  dealings,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world  to  that  time  ;  with  a  distinct 
prophecy  of  one  who  was  to  come,  a  prophet  like  unto 
Moses,  to  whom  they  were  to  give  heed  at  the  peril  of 
their  souls.     Thenceforth  the  voice  of  prophecy  ceased 


judah's  lion.  85 

not  through  many  ages,  always  testifying  of  him  who  was 
to  come  ;  and  showing  plainly  that  his  work  was  the  re- 
demption of  man  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself;  after  which 
he  should  again  come,  no  longer  a  sorrowful  victim,  but  a 
majestic  rejoicing  conqueror,  to  destroy  his  stubborn  foes, 
and  to  reign  gloriously  for  ever.  Satan,  the  great  enemy 
of  God  and  of  man,  knowing  how  intimately  all  these 
things  were  interwoven  with  the  destiny  of  Israel  in  par- 
ticular, never  ceased  to  tempt  them  to  every  kind  of  pro- 
vocation against  the  Lord,  hoping  thereby  to  frustrate  his 
gracious  purposes.  Knowing  idolatry  to  be  of  all  things 
the  most  abominably  and  outrageously  insulting  to  the 
Most  High  God,  he  especially  tempted  Israel  to  that 
crime  :  and  when,  after  the  return  from  Babylon,  he 
found  them  proof  against  it,  he  chose  another  snare — he 
led  them  so  to  add  to  the  oracles  of  God,  which  they 
dared  not  alter,  that  by  the  traditions,  the  interpolations, 
the  vain  superstitious  ordinances  of  man,  they  made  it 
vain  ;  the  pure  tenor  of  prophecy  was  no  longer  under- 
stood ;  and  when  their  Messiah, — him  to  whom  gave  all 
the  prophets  witness, — came  exactly  at  the  appointed 
time,  and  exactly  in  the  appointed  way,  as  foreshown  by 
Isaiah,  David,  and  other  prophets,  they  knew  him  not — 
they  rejected,  they  crucified  him.  For  this  deadly  sin 
they  were  driven  forth  from  their  goodly  heritage,  scat- 
tered among  all  nations,  and  exposed  to  the  wrath  of  God, 
until  they  shall  turn  to  him  who  smites  them,  and  casting 
from  them  the  vain  traditions  of  men,  believe  the  word  of 
God,  as  declared  by  their  own  inspired  prophets,  and  ac- 
knowledge the  Savior  who  once  suffered  for  them,  who 
shall  again  come  to  reign  over  them — their  own  Messiah, 
their  King,  their  God  !' 

During  this  long  address, — which  was  uttered  from  an 
overflowing  heart,  with  all  the  animation  of  one  whose 


86  jtjdah's  lion. 

long  pent-up  feelings  have  at  last  found  vent, — Alick 
listened  with  a  depth  of  earnest  attention  impossible  to 
describe.  For  some  time  he  kept  his  eyes  steadily  fixed 
on  the  speaker  ;  but  as  she  proceeded,  they  sunk  to  the 
book  which  he  held  still  open  ;  and  unconsciously  he 
took  in  the  purport  of  a  verse  on  which  they  fell,  just 
preceding  what  he  had  read, — "  And  he  saw  that  there 
was  no  man,  and  wondered  that  there  was  no  intercessor  ; 
therefore  his  arm  brought  salvation  unto  him,  and  his 
righteousness  it  sustained  him."  Alick  shut  the  book, 
and  continued  gazing  on  the  cover,  till  Mrs.  Ryan  con- 
cluded. After  a  short  silence,  he  said,  without  looking 
.  up,  '  Then  you  think  we  shall  not  recover  our  own  land 
unless  we  become  Christians  ?' 

'  I  do  not  say  so,'  replied  Mrs.  Ryan  :  '  the  word  of 
prophecy  rather  leads  me  to  think  your  people  will  na- 
tionally repossess  it  in  their  present  state ;  but  enjoy  it 
you  never  can,  nor  will  you  be  left  in  peace,  or  know  an 
hour  of  real  prosperity  or  happiness,  until  you  turn  to  the 
Lord  Jesus,  acknowledge  him,  mourn  your  own  sin,  and 
rejoice  in  his  salvation.' 

'But  suppose  we  never  do  this!' 

'  Oh  you  will,  you  will !'  exclaimed  little  Charles,  al- 
most in  a  scream ;  '  look  in  your  Bible,  Mr.  Alick  ;  look 
at  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Zechariah,  the  tenth  verse — here, 
I'll  find  it  for  you.'  He  did  so,  and  Alick  read, — "  And 
I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David  and  upon  the  inha- 
bitants of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace  and  of  supplica- 
tions ;  and  they  shall  look  upon  me  whom  they  have 
pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him  as  one  mourneth 
for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be  in  bitterness  for  him  as  one 
that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  firstborn."  And  now  just  look 
at  the  thirty -sixth  of  Ezekiel,  the  twenty-third  verse  ; 
"  And  I  will  sanctify  my  great  name  which  was  profaned 


judah's  lion.  87 

among  the  heathen,  which  ye  have  profaned  in  the  midst 
of  them  ;  and  the  heathen  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
Lord,  said  the  Lord  God,  when  I  shall  be  sanctified  in 
you  before  their  eyes.  For  I  will  take  you  from  among 
the  heathen,  and  gather  you  out  of  all  countries,  and  I 
will  bring  vou  into  your  own  land.  Then"  oh,  mind 
that,  Mr.  Alick — "  then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean :  from  all  your  filthiness  and 
from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new  heart  also 
will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you ; 
and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh, 
and  I  will  give  you  an  heart  of  flesh.  And  I  will  put  my 
Spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes, 
and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments  and  do  them.  And  ye 
shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I  gave  to  your  fathers  ;  and 
ye  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  your  God."  There, 
what  do  you  say  to  that  V  asked  the  little  fellow,  triumph- 
antly ;  and  Alick,  in  the  attempt  to  answer,  while  stroking 
the  dimpled  hand  that  pointed  out  the  blessed  words, 
burst  into  tears. 

Charley  jumped  on  his  knee,  and  kissing  away  the  drops 
as  they  fell,  said,  'My  own  darling  Jew,  Jesus  Christ 
loves  you.' 

'  I  think,'  said  Alick,  as,  smiling,  he  passed  his  hand 
over  his  forehead,  '  my  night's  study  has  been  too  much 
for  my  nerves,  idle  truant  as  I  have  long  proved  myself. 
You  see,  Charley,  I  am  a  naughty  boy,  having  neglected 
my  books  ever  since  I  was  at  school ;  and  now  I  am  no 
better  than  an  overgrown  baby.' 

'  No,  no,'  said  Charles  gravely,  '  it  is  not  that.  You  are 
going  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  and  so  you  are 
become  as  a  little  child.'  And  then  he  bustled  over  the 
leaves,  and  showed  him  our  Lord's  words. 

'  The  things  you  have  said  to  me,  Ma'am,'  said  Alick, 


88  JTTDAH's    LION; 

*  are  really  quite  overpowering  to  the  mind.  So  many 
matters,  new,  and  strange,  and  important,  are  contained  in 
your  statement  that  I  really  don't  know  what  to  say  or 
think.  I  only  wish  I  was  half  as  wise  as  this  little  oracle,' 
clasping  Charley  to  him,  with  a  look  so  full  of  affection, 
that  Mrs.  Ryan  thought  she  had  never  seen  a  more  fasci- 
nating countenance.  '  Look,  my  dear  young  friend,'  she 
suddenly  said,  in  a  low  voice,  '  yonder  is  one  of  your  na- 
tion, a  rigid  Talmudist,  who  holds  those  blinding  additions 
and  commandments  of  men,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  light 
that  would  shine  upon  him  from  this  glorious  word.  He 
is  now,  no  doubt,  engaged  in  some  work  of  supposed  merit; 
and  while  scorning  the  idolatry  of  the  poor  Romanists 
whom  you  heard  last  evening  at  their  degrading  creature- 
worship,  he  is  wrapped  in  the  same  net  that  entangles 
them — obedience  to  man,  rather  than  to  God.' 

'  Does  Ben-Melchor  admit  the  divine  authority  of  this 
book,  iMa'am  V 

'  Of  the  Old  Testament  fully.  Do  you  understand  He- 
brew 1' 

'  Yes  :  I  learnt  it  very  young.  I  can  read  and  speak 
it.' 

'  Will  you  take  the  trouble  of  fetching  me  a  basket  that 
stands  on  the  table  in  my  cabin  V 

Away  went  Alick  ;  and  Mrs.  Ryan,  catching  Charley 
to  her  bosom,  said,  '  My  love,  pray,  pray  !  there  is  a  bright 
and  blessed  hope  for  this  sweet  young  Israelite.' 

'Am  I  your  little  Missionary,  Mamma  1  am  I  V 

'Yes,  you  are,  vein  of  my  heart !  but  you  must  pray  for 
wisdom  and  boldness,  you  know.' 

'  How  pleased  Papa  will  be,  won't  he  1  but  hush,  for 
here  comes  the  darling  Jew.' 

Smiling  her  thanks,  Mrs.  Ryan  took  the  basket,  and  un^ 
locking  it,  produced  a  beautifully-printed  copy  of  the  Bi- 


judah's  lion.  89 

ble  in  Hebrew — which  Alick  rather  seized  than  took,  ex- 
claiming, '  What  a  splendid  type  !'  and  eagerly  com- 
menced reading  the  first  verse,  with  a  fluency  of  pronun- 
ciation that  delighted  Mrs;  Ryan ;  while  Charley  cried 
out  with  much  glee,  '  That's  the  language  they  spoke  ia 
Eden.' 

'  Accept  that  book,  Mr.  Cohen,'  said  his  friend  ;  '  and 
trust  me,  Ben-Melchor  will  not  call  a  word  of  it  in  ques- 
tion.    Do  study  it,  and  with  prayer.' 

'  Dear  Madam !  how  shall  I  thank  you  for  such  a  gifti' 
'  How  shall  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Cohen,  for  that  precious 
book  1  To  your  nation  were  committed  the  oracles  of 
God ;  and  but  for  their  fidelity  to  the  sacred  trust,  we 
Gentiles  must  have  perished.  They  lost  all  things,  but 
they  kept  this ;  they  have  guarded  it  through  the  brightest 
day  of  prosperity,  and  the  darkest  night  of  adversity. 
When  Popery  would  gladly  have  annihilated  such  a  living 
witness  against  her  abominable  perversions,  she  could  not, 
for  the  Jew  preserved  it:  when  she  would  have  mutilated 
and  made  it  speak  the  language  of  her  own  falsehood,  she 
could  not,  for  the  Jew  protected  it.  Trust  me,  Mr.  Co- 
hen, when  a  Gentile  hands  to  a  Jew  that  holy  and  blessed 
volume,  he  does  but  an  act  of  such  imperative  duty,  that 
the  wilful  omission  Avould  be  recorded  against  his  soul 
We  thank  you  for  the  Bible — with  our  inmost  hearts  we 
thank  you  for  the  Bible  !' 

Mrs.  Ryan  and  Charley  now  left  the  deck  ,•  and  Alick, 
pocketing  both  his  treasures,  walked  straight  up  to  Ben- 
Melchor,  who  had  been  standing  as  usual,  with  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  water,  muttering  rapidly  some  unintelligible 
words.     'Do  I  interrupt  you  V  asked  the  youth. 

'  No  ;  my  hours  of  study  are  over  till  the  sun  has  set.' 
'  W^ould  it  not  be  good  for  your  health,  sir,   to  pass 
more  time  on  deck  1     I  should  grudge  so  many  hours' 
9 


90  judah's  lion. 

confinement  in  a  close  cabin  with  this  bright  sea  about 
me.' 

'  What  availeth  the  body's  health,  young  man,  com- 
pared with  the  soul's  welfare  1' 

'  May  they  not  be  promoted  together,  sir  1  I  can  hard- 
ly think  God  gave  us  all  these  delightful  things  to  turn 
our  backs  upon.' 

'  Wisdom  is  not  with  youth,  but  with  men  of  ripened 
age.  Very  painful  are  the  studies  that  fit  the  soul  for 
blessedness,  and  very  sore  the  discipline  appointed  for 
mind  and  body  to  make  us  worthy  thereof.' 

Alick  thought  of  becoming  as  '  little  children,'  and 
felt  how  dissimilar  were  the  two  ways  pointed  out  to  hira. 
He  resumed, — '  Would  it  be  presumptuous  to  ask  the  na- 
ture of  your  studies  V 

'  The  law,  youth,  the  holy  law,  which  is  given  to  make 
us  wise.' 

Alick  drew  forth  his  Hebrew  Bible,  and  found  the  first 
Psalm,  from  which  he  read  the  first  two  verses.  Ben- 
Melchor  looked  at  him  in  astonishment,  then  silently  took 
the  book,  and  examined  it  with  great  care  ;  he  then  closed 
it,  laid  it  reverently  to  his  lips,  pressed  it  to  his  bosom, 
and  said  in  a  solemn  tone,  '  It  is  a  prohibited  book.' 

Alick  thought  the  words  and  actions  of  his  countryman 
strangely  at  variance  ;  however,  he  only  asked,  '  By 
whom  is  it  prohibited  V 

♦  By  the  Rabbins.' 

'  I  have  the  greatest  respect  for  the  Rabbins,  but  they 
shall  not  hinder  me  from  reading  this.' 

'  Youth  is  presumptuous,'  remarked  the  Jew.  '  What 
authority  hast  thou  for  disobeying  the  Rabbins  V 

'  I  have  God's  authority,  aye,  and  his  command,  to  study 
this  book.' 


judah's  lion.  91 

*  Boy  !  the  Holy  One  (blessed  be  he)  speaks  not  to  the 
unlearned.     When  heardest  thou  his  voice  V 

'  I  have  it  here,'  said  Alick,  turning  over  with  strange 
delight  the  leaves  of  his  new  Bible.  '  Our  great  prophet, 
Moses,  delivered  to  us  the  command  j' — and  he  read  the 
passage  from  Deuteronomy. 

'  The  memory  of  Moses  is  blessed,'  said  the  Jew.  *  But 
see,  the  sun  is  setting,  and  I  must  to  my  cabin.  Peace  be 
with  thee  !  but  read  not  that  prohibited  book.' 

'  Indeed  I  will,'  thought  Alick,  as  he  courteously  re- 
turned the  parting  salutation,  and  then,  pacing  the  deck, 
devoured  the  word  of  life,  in  a  language  of  which  he 
seemed  never  before  to  have  felt  the  beauty  or  the  power, 

'  Alick,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  as  he  bade  him  good  night, 
'  to-morrow  I  must  be  on  deck  all  day.     We  shall  be  pass- 


ing among 


The  isles  of  Greece,  the  isles  of  Greece, 
Where  burning  Sappho  loved  and  sung ; 

And  I  must  enjoy  with  you  the  many  classic  reminiscences 
that  cannot  fail  to  brighten  our  track.' 

Alick  bowed  ;  but  the  words  that  would,  a  little  while 
before,  have  been  so  congenial  to  his  taste,  actually  grated 
on  his  ear,  exciting  a  feeling  of  disgust.  Whence  could  it 
be  1  He  did  not  know  ;  but  with  redoubled  zest  he  be- 
took himself  to  the  contents  of  his  Hebrew  Bible,  and  fell 
asleep  with  his  finger  on  the  page,  and  his  mind  filled  with 
the  sublime  imagery  of  Isaiah. 


CHAPTER   VIIL 


The  Hebrew  Bible  which  Mrs.  Ryan  had  given  to  Alickj 
had  been  for  some  time  in  her  husband's  possession  ;  and 
he  had  marked,  faintly  but  distinctly,  by  a  pencil  line 
down  the  margin,  sundry  passages,  to  which  he  wished 
especially  to  refer,  when  discussing  with  Jews  the  word  of 
prophecy  and  of  promise.  Alick  did  not  at  first  perceive 
these  marks  ;  but  on  discovering  one  over  against  a  glow- 
ing description  of  Israel's  future  glory,  he  eagerly  sought 
for  more — and  reading  with  the  ardent  perseverance  of 
one  v/ho  is  not  fulfilling  a  task,  or  seeking  out  hidden 
mysteries,  but  hoping  to  gather  valuable  information  from 
the  pages  before  him,  he  took  in  the  purport  of  a  vast  body 
of  evidence,  while  his  heart  now  melted,  now  glowed, 
now  trembled,  as  sorrow,  hope,  awe,  alternately  bore  sway 
over  his  deeply-excited  spirit.  '  What  upon  earth,' 
thought  he,  as  with  a  gesture  of  impatience  he  struck  his 
hand  on  the  volume,  '  what  upon  earth  have  the  Gentiles 
to  do  with  this  book  1 — from  beginning  to  end  it  concerns 
us,  and  us  alone  :  how  come  they  to  possess  it,  while 
among  us  it  is  scarcely  heard  of  1'  He  turned  over  the 
leaves,  and  his  eye  falling  on  the  nineteenth  Psalm,  he  re- 
cognized it  at  once  as  forming  part  of  the  synagogue- wor- 
ship— in  which  he  had  often  joined,  but  too  heedlessly  to 


judah's  lion.  93 

take  note  of  anything  but  a  few  specimens  of  what  he 
considered  highly  poetical  language  and  imagery,  among 
which  he  had  particularly  admired  this.  '  So,'  said  he, 
after  carefully  reading  it  over,  '  this  portion  of  the  Bible 
is  actually  in  daily  use  among  us.  Have  the  Goim* 
translated  it,  I  wonder  %  He  looked  into  Gordon's  Bible, 
and  found  it  correctly  given  j  then  returning  to  the  He- 
brew, he  recognized  many  other  passages  as  being  inter- 
woven with  his  liturgy.  '  How  I  wish  I  had  my  prayer- 
book  here  !  I  used  to  despise  the  men  and  lads  around  me, 
who  pored  so  closely  over  their  book,  and  joined  so  de- 
voutly in  the  responses,  while  I  was  peeping  up  through 
the  gallery-screen  to  see  the  ladies  coming  and  going,  or 
amusing  myself  with  Esther's  angry  glances  as  she  saw  me' 
so  inattentive.  Poor  dear  Esther !  her  heart  is  with  her 
people,  mourning  over  their  afflicted  state,  and  longing, 
praying,  believing.  Oh,  how  far  superior  is  she  to  me, 
who  do  not  deserve  to  be  called  a  Jew !'  In  this  way  he 
went  on,  reading,  remembering,  and  soliloquizing  over 
the  inspired  word  5  his  prevailing  wish  being  for  some  one 
with  whom  to  discuss,  in  free,  full,  vigorous  argument, 
what  seemed  to  increase  his  perplexity  with  every  line  he 
read.  He  remembered  that  one  of  the  sentences  he  was 
accustomed  to  hear  in  public  worship  was,  "  Blessed  art 
thou,  O  Lord !  our  God,  king  of  the  universe,  who  hath 
not  made  me  a  woman."  And  he  secretly  confessed  that 
to  be  such  a  woman  as  Mrs.  Ryan  would  be  no  great  dis- 
advantage. Yet  he  longed  for  a  man  to  reason  with  him 
out  of  the  Scriptures,  and  felt  confident  that  he  could  es- 
tablish the  exclusive  title  of  Israel  to  every  good  things 
mentioned  in  them. 

In  this  mood  his  father  found  him  when  he  came  on 
deck  early,  to  enjoy  the  scenery.     Ben-Melchor  had  also, 

*  Gentiles. 


94"  JCDAH  S   LION. 

it  seemed,  a  respite  from  his  severe  services,  for  he  ap- 
peared more  carefully  attired,  and  with  a  mind  evidently 
more  disengaged,  than  on  any  of  his  precedent  transient 
visits.  Alick  could  not  account  for  the  pugnacious  feel* 
ing  of  which  he  was  inwardly  conscious,  and  which 
seemed  almost  equally  ready  to  vent  itself  on  any  conve- 
nient object.  It  was  the  proud  spirit  of  stiff-necked  Ju- 
daism rising  within  him — the  tossings  of  a  mind  breaking 
loose  from  its  former  moorings  in  the  stagnant  waters  of 
lazy  indifference,  and  caught  in  conflicting  billows  with- 
out being  able  to  reach  the  stedfast  anchor  of  well-ground- 
ed hope  and  assured  faith. 

Mr.  Cohen  appeared  unusually  cheerful  and  sociable 
with  Ben-Melchor,  whom  he  wisely  determined  to  make 
as  agreeable  as  he  could,  since  there  was  no  avoiding  him  ; 
and  the  latter  related  some  particulars  of  the  recent  pro- 
ceedings of  Mahomet  Ali,  the  turbulent  old  Pasha,  which 
interested  Mr.  Cohen  by  their  political  bearing,  and  set 
Alick  considering  whether  the  singular  character  and 
arbitrary  proceedings  of  the  Egyptian  Chief  might  not  be 
turned  to  the  advantage  of  the  Jews.  He  had,  while 
seeking  out  psalms  connected  with  the  synagogue-worship, 
recalled  to  mind  how  incessantly  their  prayers  turned  on 
the  point  of  the  national  restoration  ;  and  this,  combined 
with  the  confident  predictions  of  Mrs.  Eyan  and  Charles, 
convinced  him  that  it  was  the  bounden  duty  of  every  Jew 
to  make  it  the  principal  object  of  his  most  strenuous  efforts. 
But  on  this  subject  nothing  was  said  ;  and  Alick  was  just 
meditating  an  escape  from  such  uninteresting  society, 
when  he  was  relieved  by  seeing  his  friend  Charley  come 
bustling  up  the  ladder. 

*  Well,  my  little  'man,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  '  is  not  your 
mother  coming  to  enjoy  this  fine  weather  on  deck  V 


judah's  lion.  96 

'  No,  sir :  mamma  is  busy  in  the  cabin ;  and  I  am 
come  to  play,  if  Mr.  Alick  will  take  care  of  me.' 

'  That  I  am  sure  he  will,'  remarked  Mr.  Cohen  ;  and 
Alick  jumped  up  and  ran  off  with  Charley  to  the  farthest 
corner  of  the  deck. 

'Have you  been  reading  1'  asked  the  child,  eagerly. 

'  Plenty,  Charles  :  and  well  I  may,  for  the  whole  book 
is  about  us,  the  people  of  God,  and  nothing  else.' 

'  We  are  the  people  of  God  too,  Mr.  Alick.' 

*  Then  why  is  there  nothing  about  you  in  the  Bible  V 

'  There  is  plenty  about  us  in  the  New  Testament.  We 
are  the  children  of  Abraham  by  faith,  as  you  are  by  birth.' 

'  But  Abraham's  faith  was  quite  different  from  yours.' 

'No,  it  was  the  same.  You  know,  the  Lord  Jesus  says 
to  the  unbelieving  Jews,  "  Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced 
to  see  my  day  ;  and  he  saw  it,  and  was  glad."  ' 

'  That  proves  nothing-,'  said  Alick,  fretfully. 

'  Do  you  think  Abel  went  to  heaven,  Mr.  Alick  V 

'  What !  the  son  of  Eve,  whom  his  brother  slew  ?  yes, 
I  have  no  sort  of  doubt  as  to  that  poor  fellow.' 

'  And  Enoch  did,  we  are  sure  ;  and  Noah,  and  all  that 
loved  God  before  Abraham's  time ;  but  none  of  them  were 
Jews,  for  Abraham  was  the  first.' 

Alick  felt  ashamed  to  be  so  easily  corrected  by  a  mere 
infant :  Charles  continued  :  '  If  good  people  were  saved, 
before  there  were  any  Jews  in  the  world,  why  not  now, 
Mr.  Alick  r 

'  Fickle  boy !  Yesterday  you  were  all  for  the  Jews 
and  now  you  turn  against  us.' 

'No;  but  I  was  saying  something  to  mamma,  very 
much  like  that  you  said  to  me  just  now  ;  and  so  she  re- 
minded me  of  Abel,  and  the  rest  of  God's  Gentiles,  you 
know.' 

Alick  looked  stedfastly  in  the  smiling  face  of  the  child, 


96  JUDAH'S    LION*. 

and  after  a  moment's  pause  warmly  said,  '  Well,  Charles, 
if  it  please  God  to  fulfil  his  merciful  promises  to  Israel 
while  you  and  I  live,  I'll  share  with  you  every  blessing  I 
get  in  that  good  land.  And  I'll  tell  you  something  more^ 
my  boy  :  you  talk  of  persuading  the  Jews  to  become 
Christians ;  if  ever  that  be  done,  it  will  be  by  such  people 
as  you  and  your  dear  mother,  with  hearts  full  of  love, 
and  lips  full  of  kindness  to  the  Jews  : — to  "  Zion  whom 
no  man  seeketh  after," '  he  added  in  a  lower  tone,  and 
turning  in  the  direction  of  the  city  he  was  beginning  so 
deeply  to  yearn  over. 

Charley  laughed  with  pleasure:  'How  nice  it  is  to 
hear  you  talk  like  the  Bible,  Mr.  Alick  1  you  did  not  talk 
like  the  Bible  when  I  saw  you  at  first.' 

'  Because  I  did  not  think  like  the  Bible,  Charley.  Oh, 
how  1  wish  you  could  talk  to  me  in  Hebrew !' 

'  Sure,  ain't  I  learning  it  as  fast  as  I  can  1  Mamma 
gives  me  a  lesson  every  day.  Stop,  I'll  be  back  in  less 
than  no  time,'  cried  the  merry  little  fellow,  as  he  bounded 
away,  and  hurried  down  to  his  cabin  ;  whence  he  present- 
ly returned  with  a  Hebrew  grammar,  and  a  Psalter  in  the 
same  language. 

While  Alick  with  delight  bent  over  him,  and  corrected 
the  few  inaccuracies  of  pronunciation  with  which  he  went 
over  an  easy  little  lesson,  Mr.  Cohen  and  Ben-Melchor 
approached ;  the  former  saying,  '  That's  right,  Alick  ;  you 
could  not  be  better  employed :'  then  glancing  over  the 
child's  head,  he  exclaimed,  '  Hey-day !  why  you're 
teaching  him  Hebrew.  That's  urging  on  the  march  of 
intellect  in  double  quick  time.  Had  you  not  better  begin 
with  English  V 

'  He  reads  English,  sir,  as  well  as  I  do :'  said  Alick, 
proud  of  his  young  friend's  acquirements ;  '  and  I  have 


judah's  lion.  97 

only  now  discovered  that  he  is  making  a  progress  in  He- 
brew, wonderful  for  his  very  tender  years.' 

'  I  can  speak  Irish,  too,'  said  Charley,  the  innate  pride 
of  whose  heart  was  roused  by  all  these  commendations. 

'  And  who  taught  you,  my  brave  fellow  1'  asked  Mr. 
Cohen. 

'I  learnt  Irish  among  the  people  at  home  at  our  place 
near  Cork.  Nurse  talked  it  more  than  English.  Papa 
thought  me  too  young  for  Hebrew ;  but  I  coaxed  mamma 
to  let  me  try  a  little  bit,  and  sure  it's  easy  enough  !'  Then 
with  no  small  self-complacency  he  opened  his  Psalter,  and 
read  off  a  verse  very  correctly. 

'  He  is  evidently  a  genius,'  observed  Mr.  Cohen  ;  *  but 
his  father  is  right,  and  the  mother,  as  women  usually  are, 
is  wrong.     French  would  be  far  more  useful  to  him.' 

Charley,  whose  cheeks  had  crimsoned  on  hearing  his 
mother  blamed,  now  looked  up  at  the  reprover,  and  said 
with  some  bitterness,  '  God  didn't  write  the  Bible  in 
French.' 

The  sudden  pressure  of  Alick's  arm,  which  was  round 
him,  as  he  sate  on  his  knee,  and  which  probably  indicated 
a  wish  to  caution  him,  induced  him  to  turn  and  clasp  the 
neck  of  the  youth,  ejaculating  in  the  same  breath,  '  He 
wrote  it  in  Hebrew,  didn't  he,  darling  1 ' 

*  Upon  my  word,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  turning  to  Ben- 
Melchor,  '  this  is  a  most  extraordinary  child.' 

The  Talmudist,  in  whose  countenance  strong  passions 
had  been  working  all  along,  now  burst  out  in  fierce  in- 
vective against  the  infidel  Goim,  who  were  using  the  holy 
language  as  a  snare  to  destroy  the  souls  of  Israel ;  and  on 
whom  he  invoked  all  the  curses  of  the  law,  with  such 
loudness  of  voice  and  extravagance  of  gesture,  that 
Charley  clung  to  his  friend  in  terror,  hiding  his  face  in  the 
vest  of  Alick,  who  trembled  as  much,  though  from  a  dif- 


98  judah's  lion. 

ferent  cause.  Mr.  Cohen  strove  to  slip  in  a  few  qualify- 
ing words,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  Hebrew,  Arabic,  Ita- 
lian, were  all  put  in  requisition  by  the  enraged  Jew ;  and 
at  last  he  had  recourse  to  English,  in  which  he  was 
obliged  to  speak  slower,  while  uttering  fearful  blasphemies, 
against  the  Name  at  which  every  knee  shall  bow.  On 
hearing  this,  the  little  Christian  boy  lifted  up  his  head, 
and,  still  keeping  fast  hold  of  Alick,  looked  round,  ex- 
claiming in  a  shrill  cry,  '  You  are  a  wicked  man  to  speak 
against  the  Lord  Jesus  ! ' 

The  Jew  redoubled  his  invectives,  and  Charley,  with 
all  the  fire  of  his  race  fully  kindled,  fixed  a  stern  look  on 
the  distorted  countenance  of  the  blasphemer,  saying,  '  He 
is  your  King  for  all  that,  and  he  will  judge  you.' 

*  Little  serpent !  '  said  the  Jew  in  a  suppressed  tone, 
more  frightful  than  his  former  vociferations,  '  I  could  toss 
thee  upon  the  wave,  and  send  thee  to  Gehenna,  ere  thou 
doest  more  mischief.' 

'  Do  ! '  said  Charles,  jumping  off  Alick's  knee,  '  do  if 
you  like !  Little  Cyril  was  no  bigger  than  me  when  he 
was  a  martyr  for  the  name  of  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
and  if  you  kill  me  I'll  only  go  the  sooner  to  him.  He  is 
your  Messiah  ! '  For  a  moment  he  kept  his  eye  on  the 
face  of  the  threatener  ;  but  it  was  too  much  for  his  infant 
strength:  he  threw  himself  again  into  Alick's  arms,  and 
eobbed  and  cried  most  plteously. 

Mr.  Cohen  was  a  man  of  sense,  and  of  generous  feeling 
so  far  as  he  allowed  himself  to  feel :  he  was  also  a  fond 
father  and  a  perfect  gentleman,  and  all  these  things  com- 
bined to  make  him  unusually  angry  on  poor  little  Char- 
ley's behalf.  Before,  however,  he  could  express  his  in- 
dignation, a  new  turn  was  given  to  the  matter ;  for  some 
of  the  Jew's  Italian  remarks  had  reached  the  ear  of  the 
sailors,  who  called  up  the  Captain  from  a  devotional  office 


jttdah's  lion.  99 

before  his  image.  Their  looks,  to  which  Mr.  Cohen  failed 
not  to  direct  Ben-Melchor's  attention,  wrought  a  great 
change  in  his  aspect :  the  fate  that  he  had  contemplated 
for  little  Charles  was  not  unlikely  to  overtake  himself,  if 
he  exasperated  those  wild-looking  devotees.  He  bent  his 
eyes  to  the  ground,  and  stood  silent,  while  Mr.  Cohen 
soothed  the  irritated  mariners,  by  assuring  them  that  the 
remarks,  which  he  said  must  have  been  imperfectly  heard, 
had  no  reference  whatever  to  their  religion.  This  excuse, 
backed  by  a  hint  of  some  intended  largess,  as  a  compensa- 
tion for  the  wound  their  pious  feelings  had  suffered,  though 
needlessly,  had  the  desired  effect :  and  Mr.  Cohen  hauehtily 
told  Ben-Melchor  he  might  be  thankful  to  escape  with  no 
worse  than  a  pecuniary  infliction :  then  left  him  to  his 
reflections. 

But  why  had  Alick,  the  fiery  Alick,  been  silent  %  Had 
he  no  sympathy  with  the  courageous  fidelity  of  his  little 
companion,  no  pity  for  his  natural  terrors  %  More,  much 
more  than  this  was  swelling  in  Alick's  bosom  :  the  ex- 
pressions that  roused  the  child's  resentment  had  smote  on 
his  heart,  making  it  recoil  as  from  something  dreadful ; 
while  the  words  of  the  baby  missionary,  '  He  is  your 
King,  and  he  will  judge  you  :  He  is  your  Messiah,'  seem- 
ed to  awaken  an  echo  there.  Overpowered  by  the  con- 
sciousness that  a  belief  which  his  people  held  so  deeply 
accursed  was  fast  gaining  on  him,  he  felt  paralyzed:  and 
the  child's  momentary  boldness,  his  spring  upon  the  deck, 
his  fearless  bearing  in  the  face  of  an  opposer  so  formidable, 
and  the  reference  to  a  martyr  of  his  own  age,  all  struck 
the  young  Jew  as  something  supernatural,  sent  to  confirm 
his  wavering  thoughts.  When  the  seamen  approached 
with  looks  so  evidently  hostile,  he  lifted  Charley  in  his 
arms,  ran  down  to  his  mother's  cabin,  and  saying,  '  There; 
thank  God  for  what  he  has  given  you,'  hastened  back  in 


iOO  jitdah's  lion. 

time  to  hear  his  father's  plausible  excuse,  and  to  "witness 
the  retreat  of  the  crest-fallen  Ben-Melchor  ;  after  which, 
Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  Alick,  a  sad  insult  has  been  put  on  that 
nice  woman  in  the  person  of  her  little  son.  We  really 
must,  as  gentlemen,  disclaim  any  participation  in  the 
vulgar,  violent  prejudices  of  this  strange  fellow.  Come 
down  with  me  to  her  cabin.' 

Alick  obeyed,  half  reluctantly  indeed  ;  for  nothing  was 
so  insupportable  to  him  as  the  idea  that  something  might 
lead  to  a  prohibition  of  farther  intercourse.  Mr.  Cohen 
sent  in  a  most  polite  request  for  five  minutes'  audience,  by 
Mrs.  Ryan's  servant ;  and  on  being  admitted  they  found 
that  lady,  with  traces  of  tears  on  her  cheeks,  and  Charley 
looking  most  sorrowfully  downcast  in  a  corner  of  the  little 
apartment.  An  ample,  and  indeed  a  very  feeling  apology 
was  immediately  tendered  by  Mr.  Cohen,  to  which  she 
warmly  replied  that  it  was  wholly  unnecessary,  since  she 
could  not  for  a  moment  believe  that  it  was  otherwise  than 
painful  and  distressing  to  them  to  witness  what  no  one 
could  have  prevented.  She  added  that  her  chief  regret 
was  on  Charley's  account,  who,  by  his  own  confession,  had 
shown  a  very  improper  spirit  in  replying  to  what  was  so 
wrathfully  spoken. 

'  My  dear  madam,  you  astonish  me.  The  boy's  spirit 
was  admirable  ;  and  though  of  course  I  could  not  take  his 
view  of  the  question,  right  proud  should  I  be  to  have 
a  boy  twice  his  age,  equally  bold  and  faithful  to  his  con- 
victions.' 

'  Charles,  come  hither,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan  ;  and  the  little 
fellow  came  to  her  knee.  '  Did  you  speak  the  truth  to 
the  person  who  was  reviling  our  Lord  1 ' 

'  Yes,  mamma,  I  did.' 

'Did  you  speak  it  in  love,  Charles'?  Did  you  bear 
in  mind  that  "  the  man  of  God  must  not  strive,  but  be 


judah's  lion.  101 

gentle  unto  all  men  ;  patient  ;  in  meekness  instructing 
them  that  oppose  themselves;"  and  did  you,  as  far  as  a 
little  boy  could  do,  exhibit  the  spirit  of  a  man  of  Godl ' 

Charles  hung  his  head. 

'  What  did  our  Lord  do  when  he  was  reviled  \ ' 
Charles  looked  up,  and  softly  repeated,  '  "  Who,  when  he 
was  reviled,  reviled  not  again :  when  he  suffered,  he 
threatened  not ;  but  committed  himself  to  him  that  judg- 
eth  righteously."  Please  forgive  me  ! '  he  added,  looking 
round  with  tearful  eyes. 

'  I  profess  myself  wholly  unable  to  see  what  there  is  to 
forgive,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  with  some  warmth.  '  My  coun- 
tryman, a  great  fellow,  with  a  formidable  countenance, 
talked  of  pitching  this  child  into  the  sea  around  us,  which 
he  could  have  done  in  a  moment  (you  need  not  look  so 
fierce,  Alick,)  and  instead  of  running  away,  or  screaming 
out  with  terror,  the  gallant  little  fellow  faced  him  most 
manfully,  declaring  his  readiness  to  lay  down  his  life  for 
what  he  believes  to  be  the  truth.  I  repeat,  were  he  mine, 
I  should  glory  in  him  ;  and  richly  reward  him  too.  I 
will  not  any  longer  intrude  on  you,  dear  madam  ;  but 
permit  me  to  hope  that  you  will  join  us  on  deck  in  the 
evening,  when  we  shall  pass  the  noble  spectacle  of  the 
ancient  Sunium,  and  I  need  not  add  that  no  annoyance 
will  be  suffered  to  approach  you.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  promised :  and  heartily  thanked  him  for  his 
kindness  to  her  and  the  child,  as  he  took  a  friendly  leave; 
then  turning  to  Alick,  who  still  sat  absorbed  in  thought, 
she  said,  '  Your  father  is  all  benevolence  and  real  courte- 
sy, Mr.  Cohen.' 

But  Alick's  pent-up  emotion  could  bear  restraint  no 

longer  ;  he  burst  out  into  sudden  vehemence,  exclaiming, 

'  Oh,  Mrs.  Kyan,  I  cannot  bear  to  hear  that  Name  reviled  •' 

Nobody  must  do  it,  nobody  shall  do  it  in  my  presence — 

10 


102  judah's   lion. 

I  can't  bear  it,  and  I  won't  bear  it ! '  and  he  started  up 
and  threw  himself  into  another  seat,  while  Mrs.  Ryan 
gazed  in  silent  surprise,  and  Charley  running  to  him  said, 
'  Why,  do  you  love  the  Lord  Jesus  %     Do  you  1  do  you  %  ' 

'I  don't  know  that  I  love  him,  but  he  was  good  and 
merciful ;  though  he  is  not  my  Messiah.' 

'Either  your  Messiah,  or  a  deceiver,  an  impostor,  and 
a  blasphemer,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  firmly  and  solemnly.  '  He 
applied  to  himself  all  the  predictions  of  the  prophets,  he 
declared  himself  the  Son  of  God,  the  King  of  Israel,  the 
I  AM,  the  Pre-existent,  before  Abraham  was,  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world — that  world  of  which  he  an- 
nounced himself  to  be  the  final  Judge.  No,  Mr.  Cohen, 
there  is  no  middle  way  :  either  the  strongest  expressions 
of  your  countryman  fldl  far  short  of  the  truth,  or  else  he 
of  whom  we  speak,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  is  your  own  Mes- 
siah, your  Savior,  your  King,  and  your  God.' 

'  Mrs.  Ryan,  don't  say  any  more  ;  I  will  not  rest  till 
this  point  is  settled  in  my  mind  ;  but  my  head  is  too  be- 
wildered to  think  at  present.  Don't  speak  about  it  when 
my  father  is  by  ;  for  though  he  is  so  liberal  he  might  for- 
bid my  conversing  with  you  :  he  did  on  a  former  occa- 
sion with  one  who  first  taught  me  to  think  on  these  sub* 
jects.' 

'  Then  you  have  been  spoken  to  before  1 '  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Ryan  eagerly. 

'  Yes  :  by  the  person  who  gave  me,  or  rather  lent  rae^ 
the  English  Bible,  on  board  the  ship  we  came  over  in.  It 
arose  from  his  saying  that  the  third  Lion  in  our  British 
arms  was  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.' 

'  Oh,  I  do  hope  it  is  ! '  cried  Mrs.  Ryan.  '  It  would 
indeed  be  a  token  of  security,  honor,  and  triumph  for 
England,  if  her  standard  bore  that  unconquerable  badge.' 

Towards  sunset,  the  voyagers  assembled  on  deck,  where, 


judah's   lion.  103 

by  Mr.  Cohen's  orders,  a  handsome  awning  had  been  put 
up,  and  refreshments  set  out,  to  which  Mrs.  Ryan,  Charley 
and  Ben-Melchor  were  invited.  The  latter  appeared 
anxious  to  render  himself  more  agreeable  to  his  compa- 
nions, who  avoided  any  recurrence  to  the  past,  and  all  was 
cordiality  and  good-humor.  They  obtained  a  splendid 
view  of  the  remarkable  spot  which  Mr.  Cohen  was  so 
anxious  to  survey, — Cape  Colonna,  from  the  bold  high 
clitr  of  which,  abruptly  rise  the  marble  pillars  that  once 
supported  a  magnificent  temple  of  Minerva.  Bathed  in 
the  light  of  a  western  sun,  these  beautiful  ruins  shone  like 
burnished  gold,  extorting  exclamations  of  delight  from 
more  than  one  of  the  party. 

'  How  imposing  is  that  desolate  wreck  of  the  glories  of 
ancient  Greece  ! '  said  Mr.  Cohen.  '  It  is  the  first  object 
that  has  really  interested  me  since  I  left  home.  The  fa- 
miliarity acquired  in  early  days  with  these  classic  scenes 
and  names,  invests  them  with  an  endearing  claim  on  the 
affections,  so  that  the  first  gaze  fixed  on  them  seems  rather 
the  recognition  of  something  long  loved  and  lost,  than  the 
discovery  of  a  new  object.  I  am  looking  on  Sunium,'  he 
added,  '  and  how  prolific  is  imagination  in  filling  out  what 
now,  alas !  is  lacking  to  that  bare  but  lovely  outline,  and 
peopling  the  solitary  cliff  with  forms  of  armed  warriors, 
and  of  white-stoled  priests  ;  while  the  song  of  devotion 
and  the  shout  of  defiance  seem  borne  in  mingled  power 
over  these  now  silent  waters.' 

'  Will  Greece  ever  rise  again  to  any  eminence  among 
the  nations  1 '  asked  Alick. 

*  Not  under  its  present  government,'  replied  Mr.  Co- 
hen ;  'nor  while  the  character  of  her  sons  continues  so 
miserably  deteriorated.  The  ancient  spirit  of  freedom 
must  be  rekindled,  with  all  its  glowing   patriotism  and 


104  judah's  lion. 

scorn  of   wrong,  ere  we  can   look  to   witness   another 
Marathon.' 

After  a  few  more  remarks  on  the  past  and  present  state 
of  Greece,  the  conversation  turned  on  the  relative  position 
of  Turkey  and  Egypt,  the  evident  purpose  of  IVTehemet 
Ali  ultimately  to  cast  off  the  Sultan's  yoke,  and  to  es- 
tablish an  independent  dominion,  which  Mr.  Cohen  re- 
marked, he  would  extend  to  the  utmost  of  his  power. 

'  And  what,  in  that  case,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  is  to  become 
of  Syria  %  what  of  Palestine  1 ' 

Ben-Melchor  looked  at  her  for  a  moment,  then  dropped 
his  eyes  :  but  the  glare  of  that  glance  was  startling.  She, 
however,  resumed.  '  My  own  conviction  is  strong  and 
immoveable  :  all  these  disputes,  these  conflicts  and 
commotions  in  the  East,  are  but  the  means  which  God 
will  overrule  to  accomplish  the  restoration  of  his  chosen 
people,  his  Israel,  to  their  own  land.' 

Mr.  Cohen  looked  astonished,  Alick  delighted,  and  Ben- 
Melchor  averted  his  face. 

'  Tell  me,'  she  resumed,  '  do  you  not  yourselves  look 
for  this  1.  ' 

'  Why,  I  believe  the  expectation  has  always  been  cher- 
ished among  us,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  :  '  but  I  cannot  say  that, 
as  yet,  I  see  any  indications  of  its  being  well-grounded. 
The  time  may  come,  though  not  in  our  day  :  meanwhile 
we  have  little  to  complain  of  in  our  present  state  ;  and 
under  the  light  of  the  nineteenth  century,  I  expect  the 
few  remaining  prejudices  will  wholly  subside,  and  we 
shall  take  our  place,  divested  of  all  invidious  distinctions, 
among  the  nations  where  now  we  hold  a  somewhat  unfa- 
vorable and  anomalous  position.' 

'  I  cannot  agree  with  you,'  said  Mrs.  Kyan.  '  The 
writings  of  Moses  and  the  prophets  distinctly  point  to  a 
national  restoration,  not  only  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  but 


judah's   lion.  105 

of  the  scattered,  long  lost  Ten  Tribes,  again  to  inherit  the 
land  which  God  gave  to  Abraham  ;  to  build  up  the  old 
wastes,  to  restore  the  desolations  of  many  generations  ; 
and  your  daily  services  in  the  synagogue  so  hinge  upon 
that  prediction,  that  you  can  scarcely  point  out  a  prayer 
which  does  not  plead  the  promise  of  God  to  bring  you 
back.' 

Alick  had  never  seen  his  father  look  so  perplexed ;  yet 
there  was  not  much  dissatisfaction  in  his  countenance. 
Mrs.  Ryan's  was  glowing  with  eager  animation ;  and 
Ben-Melchor  looked  the  personification  of  pride.  Mr. 
Cohen  suddenly  turned  to  him  and  said,  'You  are  better 
able  to  decide  this  question  than  I.' 

'  What  question,  brother  V 

'  Whether  our  people  are  to  re-possess  the  land  of  our 
fathers.' 

'  Is  yonder  sun  to  rise  again  V  asked  Ben-Melchor. 

'  Not  more  surely,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  than  Israel  is  to 
re-possess  the  land  :  for  the  Lord  has  said  that  if  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  depart  from  before  him, 
then  may  Israel  cease  from  being  a  nation  before  him,  for 
ever :  and  again,  "  If  ye  can  break  my  covenant  of  the 
day,  and  my  covenant  of  the  night,  and  that  there  should 
not  be  day  and  night  in  their  season ;  then  may  also 
my  covenant  be  broken  witli  David  my  servant,  that  he 
should  not  have  a  son  to  reign  upon  his  throne  ;  and  with 
the  Levites  the  priests,  my  ministers."  And  once  more, 
"  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  if  my  covenant  be  not  with  day 
and  night,  and  if  I  have  not  appointed  the  ordinances  of 
heaven  and  earth  ;  then  will  I  cast  away  the  seed  of 
Jacob,  and  David  my  servant,  so  that  I  will  not  take  any 
of  his  seed  to  be  rulers  over  the  seed  of  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob :  for  I  will  cause  their  captivity  to  return,  and 
have  mercy  on  them." 
10* 


106  judah's  lion. 

'If  those  words  are  in  our  law,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  '  they 
are  very  encouraging.' 

'  The  words  are  truth  !'  ejaculated  Ben-Melchor  ;  '  the 
Holy  One  (blessed  be  he)  hath  spoken  thera.' 

'  Have  you,  sir,  a  copy  of  your  liturgy  with  you  V 
asked  Mrs,  Ryan,  who  seemed  roused  to  shame  the  cold- 
ness of  this  liberal  Jew. 

'  Why  it  happens  that  in  looking  out  some  things  for 
this  trip,  I   transferred   a   prayer-book  from  my  larger 
trunk,  and  it  is  now  in  my  cabin.'     Without  waiting  for 
another  word,  Alick,  whose  caution  seemed  all  to  be  for- 
gotten, flew  down  stairs,  and  brought  up  the  liturgy  in 
constant  use  among  them,  to  which  he  had  never  given 
the  smallest  attention.     Mrs.  Ryan  took  the  book,  and 
turning  to  the  concluding  part,  the  office  of  the  Hosanna 
Rabba,  read  as  follows  :     '  The  voice  of  (Elijah)  who 
bringeth  glad  tidings,   and   said — Thy   salvation    will    I 
strengthen  when  he  (Messiah)  cometh  ;  it  is  the  voice  of 
my  beloved,  coming,  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  of  him  who  cometh  with  myriads  of  saints, 
standing  on  the  mount  of  Olives,  and  I  will  declare  the 
glad  tidings.     It  is  the  voice  of  him  (Messiah)  when  he 
cometh  at  the  sound  of  the  great  cornet  when  the  moun- 
tain will  divide  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.     It 
is  the  voice  of  him  (Elijah)  proclaiming  the  redemption 
from  captivity,    and   the  (Messiah)  coming  with  all  his 
pious  ones  with  him  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  of  the  bathkol  roaring  from  Zion,  pro- 
claiming freedom  to  the  whole  world  ;  an  I  I  will  declare 
the  glad  tidings.     It  is  the  voice  of  compassion  pressing 
on  the  seed  (Israel)  for  they  will  be  deemed  innocent  as 
infants  in  the  womb  of  their  mothers  ;  and  I  will  declare 
the  glad    tidings.^''''     She  passed  over  a  few  words,  and 
continued,  '  "  It  is  the  voice  of  the  pure  one  who  work- 


judah's  lion.  107 

eth  and  beholdetli  all  these  things;  and  I  will  declare  the 
glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  salvation,  proclaiming  the 
welcome  period  of  the  earth's  acknowledging  the  unity 
of  his  name  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is 
the  voice  of  the  Mighty  One  of  heaven  and  earth,  ex- 
claiming. Can  a  nation  be  born  at  once  %  and  I  will  de- 
clare the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  proclaiming  the 
period  of  redemption  ;  and  the  people  shall  see  light, 
'  and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  at  even-tide  there  shall  be 
light,  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice 
of  the  Savior's  going  up  to  mount  Zion,  who  will  heal  the 
sick,  and  will  redeem  the  children  of  Zion,  and  I  will 
declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  that  shall  be 
heard  in  all  thy  borders,  to  enlarge  the  places  of  thy 
dwellings  ;  and  I  xvill  declare  the  glad  tidi?igs.  It  is  the 
voice  crying  to  make  thy  residence  unto  Damascus  for  the 
reception  of  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters ;  and  I  will  de- 
clare the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  to  make  glad  the 
rose  of  Sharon ;  for  they  shall  rise  who  sleep  in  Hebron, 
and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  cry- 
ing. Turn  ye  to  me,  for  on  the  day  ye  hearken,  ye  shall 
be  saved  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings .  It  is  the 
voice  of  the  man  whose  name  is  the  branch,  and  this  self- 
same branch  is  David  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  proclaiming,  rise  ye  up  from  the  dust, 
awake  and  shout,  ye  who  inhabit  the  dust;  and  I  will 
declare  the  glad  tidi7igs.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  multitude 
praising  the  reign  of  the  Messiah,  making  great  the  salva- 
tion of  his  kingdom  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  exclaiming,  the  name  of  the  wicked  shall 
perish,  but  he  will  show  mercy  to  his  anointed  one,  even 
David  ]  and  I  ivill  declare  the   glad  tidi?igs.     It  is  the 


108  judah's  lion. 

voice  of  granting  salvation  to  his  people  for  ever,  even  to 
David  and  his  seed  to  everlasting."  '* 

The  silence  that  reigned  while  the  lady,  with  equal 
solemnity  and  animation,  recited  this  remarkable  portion 
of  Hebrew  worship,  was  unbroken.  Her  auditors  listened, 
almost  breathlessly ;  and  the  very  sailors  as  they  passed 
and  repassed,  trod  lightly  on  the  planks.  Closing  the 
book,  she  said,  '  This  is  your  hope,  and  this  is  ours.  Oh 
that  He,  the  God  of  Abraham,  may  hasten  that  glorious 
day  when  there  shall  be  one  king  over  all  the  earth,  and 
his  name  one  !  Do  not  forego  this  prospect :  do  not  let 
the  poor  advantages  that  may  be  obtained  among  Gentile 
nations  divert  your  eyes  from  looking,  your  heaits  from 
longing,  for  the  consolation  of  Israel.  The  promise  is 
given:  "  though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it — it  will  surely  come 
and  not  tarry."  There,  Mr.  Cohen,  is  your  book,  some 
parts  of  which  are  indeed  contrary  to  Scripture ;  but 
there  are  very  few  prayers  in  it  to  which  I  cannot  re- 
spond with  a  fervent  amen  ;  far,  far  unlike  are  they  to 
the  idolatrous  abominations  that  lately,  on  this  very  spot, 
pained  our  ears,  insulting  the  Most  High  God.  Oh,  that 
you  would  seek  to  the  Fountain-head  of  all  truth,  where 
the  water  of  life  flows  freely,  unmingled  with  man's  in- 
ventions! Then  should  you  understand  the  counsel  of 
the  Lord,  then  should  you  clearly  see  what  precious 
things  are  reserved  for  you ;  and  hear  indeed  the  voice 
saying,  "  Turn  ye  to  me,  for  on  the  day  ye  hearken  ye 
shall  be  saved !" 

Without  giving  time  for  any  one  to  reply,  she  took 
Charley  by  the  hand,  and  with  an  obeisance   not  only 

•  "  The  form  of  daily  prayers,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
German  and  Polish  Jews,  as  read  in  their  synagogues,  and  used 
in  their  families." — Printed  and  sold  by  Abrahams,  Houndsditch. 
A,  M.  5596. 


judah's  lion.  109 

courteous,  but  respectful,  she  quitted  the  deck,  and  de- 
scended to  her  cabin,  to  pour  out  a  full,  and  on  this  occa- 
sion, a  thankful  heart, 

Alick  looked  at  his  father :  he  had  never  seen  him 
wear  so  solemn  an  aspect.  Mr.  Cohen  had  opened  the 
book,  and  was  attentively  reading  the  passage  over.  Ben- 
Melchor  suddenly  exclaimed,  '  That  woman  hath  studied 
the  law,  which  was  not  made  for  women  to  study  ;  yet  it 
hath  given  her  wisdom:  she  will  pervert  many.  Youth, 
beware  of  her !' 

'  I  wish  he  may  never  meet  with  anything  more  need- 
ful to  beware  of,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  abruptly.  '  Come, 
Alick,  I  want  you  to  read  to  me:  we  have  been  too 
little  together  of  late,  considering  in  how  small  a  space 
we  are  cooped  up.'  Then,  bowing  to  Ben-Melchor,  he 
took  Alick's  arm,  led  him  to  his  cabin,  and  to  the  youth's 
great  astonishment,  desired  him  to  begin  and  read  aloud 
the  Hebrew  Liturgy,  which  he  did  with  extreme  readi- 
ness, and  with  increasing  wonder  that  he  should  have 
been  so  insensible  to  its  bearing  on  the  point  that  of  late 
had  almost  exclusively  occupied  his  thoughts.  He  longed 
unspeakably  to  discuss  it  with  Mrs.  Ryan  ;  and  in  the 
meantime,  after  leaving  his  father,  occupied  himself  in 
ascertaining  that  the  Psalms  and  other  scriptural  portions 
contained  in  that  book,  exactly  corresponded  with  his 
Hebrew  Bible,  and  the  latter  with  the  English.  He 
seemed  to  have  now  something  tangible,  both  as  regarded 
Judaism  and  Christianity,  and  resolved  to  make  use  of  it 
in  deciding  the  momentous  question,  of  which  he  felt  that 
the  importance  hourly  increased. 


CHAPTER   IX 


All  restraint  was  now  completely  removed,  as  regarded 
the  main  subjects  of  Alick's  conversations  with  Mrs.  Ryan 
and  Charle}'.  It  was  a  plain  question  between  them, 
whether  real  Judaism  was  or  was  not  Christianity  ;  and 
to  this  end  she  especially  urged  upon  him  what  he  felt  to 
be  a  very  powerful  argument, — the  sinfulness  of  man's 
nature,  of  which,  through  the  application  of  God's  law 
to  his  secret  conscience,  he  already  began  to  feel  more 
than  theoretically  convinced, — the  absolute  necessity  of 
some  atoning  sacrifice  for  that  guilt ;  and,  supposing  that 
any  one  could  really  believe  that  the  blood  of  bulls  and 
of  goats  had  power  to  take  away  sin,  the  compulsory 
cessation  of  those  ordinances  prescribed  in  the  Mosaic 
law,  and  the  consequent  condemnation  of  the  whole 
world,  Jew  and  Gentile  alike,  for  seventeen  centuries. 
Having  established  this,  she  proceeded  to  show  in  a  very 
simple  and  beautiful  manner,  how  perfectly  every  type 
was  fulfilled  in  the  Lord  Jesus ;  and  how  distinctly  he  is 
set  forth  as  "  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every 
one  that  believeth,"  not  only  in  the  writings  of  the  Apos- 
tles, but  of  the  prophets,  Alick's  mind  was  of  a  fine 
order,  and  peculiarly  fitted  for  deep  investigation  :  and 


jUdah's  lion.  Ill 

being  now  for  the  first  time  really  interested,  it  was  for 
the  first  time  fairly  drawn  out :  so  that  the  present  topic 
engrossed  it  with  exclusive  power.  Ben-Melchor  had 
distinctly  established  the  authenticity  of  the  Hebrew  ver- 
sion of  the  Old  Testament  which  Mrs.  Ryan  had  given 
to  him  ;  but  at  the  same  time  denounced  his  study  of  it,  in 
that  pure  state,  as  contrary  to  the  law  of  the  Rabbins  j  his 
father,  on  the  contrary,  assured  him  that  it  was  very  fre- 
quently used  among  the  Jews  of  their  own  acquaintance 
who  were  at  all  inclined  to  obtain  credit,  as  he  said,  for 
theological  learning  and  piety :  and  that  their  little 
devotee,  Esther,  was  constantly  poring  over  it  in  her  re- 
tirement. From  all  this  Allele  gathered  that  he  might  with 
perfect  confidence  refer  every  question  to  its  decision,  and 
as  Mrs.  Ryan  was  well  pleased  to  do  the  same,  their  argu- 
ments went  mainly  to  establish  the  correspondence  or  the 
discrepancy  of  the  New  Testament  with  the  Old.  One 
great  advantage  was  gained  by  the  early  acquaintance  into 
which  Alick  had  been  brought  with  the  idolatrous  errors 
of  Popery  :  he  could  himself  disprove  many  of  them  by 
very  plain  passages  in  the  Bible  j  and  she  took  occasion 
by  this  to  show  him  how  similarly  unfounded  and  un- 
scriptural  were  the  doctrines  and  traditions  of  the  Tal- 
mudists. 

For  instance,  on  a  strict  fast-day,  which  occurred  while 
they  were  at  sea,  after  a  night  of  very  troublesome 
navigation,  when  the  poor  sailors,  greatly  needing  refresh- 
ment, looked  quite  wan  and  dejected  for  the  lack  of  it,  and 
the  captain  was  particularly  audible  and  voluble  before  his 
image,  Alick  remarked  that  it  was  doing  a  great  injustice 
to  the  character  of  the  Most  Merciful  to  suppose  that  He 
could  take  any  pleasure  in  seeing  them  crawling  about 
the  ship,  hungry  and  uncomfortable.     Mrs.  Ryan  warmly 


112  judah's  lion. 

assented,  and  added,  '  They  really  believe  it  is  an  accepta- 
ble service,  and  very  efficacious  in  atoning  for  sin.' 

'Well,'  said  Alick,  'they  did  not  learn  such  a  notion 
out  oimy  Scriptures,  at  any  rate,  whatever  the  other 
book  may  say.' 

'  The  other  book,'  replied  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  which,  by  the 
way,  is  not  another,  says,  "  Bodily  exercise  profiteth  lit- 
tle," and  stigmatizes  as  "  doctrines  of  devils  "  the  "  for- 
bidding to  marry  and  commanding  to  abstain  from 
meats." ' 

'  Then,  so  far  we  agree ;  for  look  here,  what  Isaiah  says, 
"Is  it  such  a  fast  that  I  have  chosen  ?  a  day  for  a  man  to 
afflict  his  soul  1  is  it  to  bow  down  his  head  like  a  bul- 
rush, and  to  spread  sackcloth  and  ashes  under  himl  wilt 
thou  call  this  a  fast,  and  an  acceptable  day  unto  the 
Lord  1"  ' 

'  Will  you  read  the  eleventh  verse  of  that  fifty-eighth 
chapter V  said  Mrs.  Ryan  eagerly  :  'it  is  to  show  what 
shall  be  the  consequence  of  your  people's  forsaking  these 
empty  forms  of  erring  devotion,  and  worshipping  and  serv- 
ing the  Lord  according  to  his  own  will.' 

Alick  read — '  "And  they  that  shall  be  of  thee  shall  build 
the  old  waste  places  :  thou  shalt  raise  up  the  foundations  of 
many  generations,  and  thou  shalt  be  called.  The  repairer 
of  the  breach.  The  restorer  of  paths  to  dwell  in."  This  re- 
fers to  our  restoration,  certainly ;  but  I  don't  see  how  it 
applies  ;  for  we  are  quite  free  from  such  Gentile  abomi- 
nations.' 

'  No,'  she  replied,  '  look  at  your  prayer-book,  and  read 
in  the  afternoon  service  for  the  fast,  what  you  appear  not 
to  have  noticed.  It  is  at  page  'M.  Alick  presently  found 
it,  and  read,  "  Sovereign  of  the  Universe !  it  is  clearly 
known  unto  thee  that  whilst  the  holy  temple  was  esta- 
blished, if  a  man  sinned,  he  brought  an  offering,  of  which 


judah's  lion.  Il3 

they  only  offered  its  fat  and  blood,  yet  didst  thou  in  thine 
abundant  mercy  grant  him  pardon  ;  but  now,  because  of 
our  iniquities,  the  holy  temple  is  destroyed,  and  we  have 
neither  sanctuary  nor  priest  to  atone  for  us.  Oh,  may  it 
therefore  be  acceptable  in  thy  presence  that  the  diminu* 
tion  of  my  fat  and  blood,  whicii  hath  been  diminished  this 
day,  may  be  accounted  as  fat  offered  and  placed  on  the 
altar,  and  thus  be  accepted  of  me."  '  I  can't  say  that  I 
like  that,  Mrs.  Ryan :  really  it  does  savor  of  Popery,  I  am 
sorry  to  confess.'     - 

'  True,  and  it  does  not  savor  of  the  Bible  ;  for  look  how 
the  Lord  rejects  something  very  similar  to  it,  Micah  vi* 
6 — .8.  "  Wherewith  shall  I  come  before  the  Lord,  and 
bow  myself  before  the  most  high  God  1  Shall  I  come  be- 
fore him  with  burnt-offerings,  with  calves  of  a  year  old  1 
Will  the  Lord  be  pleased  with  thousands  of  rams  or  with 
ten  thousands  of  rivers  of  oil  ?  shall  I  give  my  first-born 
for  my  transgression,  the  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  sin  of 
my  soul  %  He  hath  showed  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good  ; 
and  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  justly, 
and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God  1"  ' 

'  That,'  said  Alick,  '  does  away  with  sacrifices  of  every 
kind,  and  provides  no  atonement  at  all,  but  a  man's  good 
works.' 

'  O  far,  far  from  it.  "  He  hath  showed  thee,  O  man, 
what  is  good,"  the  alarmed  soul  is  directed  to  some  reve- 
lation of  God,  providing  the  remedy  that  he  would  vainly 
purchase  by  the  blood  of  beasts,  or  that  of  his  own  flesh  j 
and  upon  this  text  alone,  Mr.  Cohen,  I  can  rest,  to  prove 
the  utter  insufficiency  of  all  that  man  can  do — the  cer- 
tainty that  God  has  done  for  him  what  he  never  could 
achieve  for  himself.  To  ascertain  what  this  was,  turn  to 
the  fifty-third  chapter  of  Isaiah.' 

But  Charles  had  already  found  the  chapter,  and  his 
sweet  little  voice,  reading  it  throughout,  gave  the  utmost 
effect  to  its  touching  words. 
11 


Hi  judah's  lion. 

In  this  way  Mrs.  Ryan  proceeded,  at  once  vindicating 
Christianity  from  the  abominations  of  Popery,  and  Judaism 
from  those  of  the  Talmud.  Mr.  Cohen,  meanwhile,  en- 
couraged Alick  to  talk  to  him  on  the  subject  of  their  own 
faith,  and  even  allowed  him  to  read  those  passages  from 
the  prophetic  writings  which  positively  foretell  the  resto- 
ration of  Israel  to  their  own  land.  On  one  occasion,  he 
said,  '  You  must  curb  your  enthusiasm,  my  dear  boy  ; 
whatever  pleasant  dreams  you  may  indulge  in,  as  to  that 
far  distant  period  of  which  our  holy  prophets  certainly 
speak  very  clearly:  remember,  our  present  business  is 
with  our  own  times  and  the  men  of  our  own  times ;  and 
advancement  among  the  nations,  such  as  we  are  looking 
for  in  England,  where  places  of  high  trust  and  honor  will 
not  long  be  closed  against  us,  is  worth  seeking,  if  only  to 
facilitate  the  events  on  which  your  heart  is  so  much  fixed. 
You  don't  want  to  see  a  procession  of  old  clothesmen,'  he 
added  smiling,  '  with  greasy  beards,  and  sacks  over  their 
ahoulders,  returning  to  Jerusalem  1' 

But  Alick  did  not  smile.  '  Father,  they  are  Jews,  and 
I  am  a  Jew,  and  to  Jerusalem  we  shall  all  return.  It  may 
be  in  a  depressed  and  humble  state,  that  in  our  own  land 
the  favor  of  God  may  first  shine  on  us  to  raise  us  out  of 
the  dust :  but  I  never  will  allow  that  our  path  lies  upward 
among  the  Gentiles,  crawling  and  creeping  from  grade  to 
grade,  till  we  attain  sufficient  importance  to  restore  our- 
selves. No,  no,  sir:  we  shall  never  restore  ourselves — 
the  Lord  our  God,  He  will  restore  us.' 

Mr.  Cohen  looked  at  the  youth's  erect  person,  his  ex- 
tended arm,  and  animated  gesture,  and  secretly  thought 
what  a  fine  parliamentary  speaker  he  would  one  day  be- 
come. He  then  said  with  his  accustomed  good-humor, 
'  Well,  my  dear  boy,  far  be  it  from  me  to  check  your 
patriotic  feelings,  since  you  do  feel  that  Jerusalem  is  indeed 
our  country,  the   land  of  our  fathers,  the  land  that  God 


judah's  lion.  115 

gave  to  Abraham,  and  which  I  heartily  hope  will  be  re- 
stored to  Abraham's  posterity.  We  only  differ  as  to  the 
way  of  its  accomplishment,  and  probably  that  difference 
arises  only  from  my  longer  intercourse  with  this  matter-of- 
fact  world.  I  have  beenan  enthusiast  myself,  Allele,  though 
I  confess  not  in  a  cause  so  high  as  what  you  are  engaged 
in  :  had  my  thoughts  been  turned  into  that  channel,  'tis 
not  improbable  that  I  might,  some  thirty  years  ago,  have 
raised  a  Hebrew  corps  from  among  the  most  despised  of 
our  brethren  in  London,  and  undertaken  the  re-conquest 
of  Syria.  So  you  see  1  can  make  allowances  for  your 
sanguine  anticipations  of  what,  possibly,  your  children 
may,  In  their  old  age,  see  the  beginning  of.  Be  as  na- 
tional as  you  please  :  if  you  don't  serve  your  people  in 
one  way,  you  may  in  another.' 

*  Dear  father,  how  kind  you  always  are  to  me  !  It 
does  make  me  so  happy  to  find  you  willing  to  indulge  me 
in  talking  on  this  subject.' 

'  It  would  be  very  unnatural  in  me  not  to  do  so,  Alick. 
To  say  truth,  I  am  the  more  willing  to  indulge  you  in 
talking  to  me,  because  you  so  readily  and  honorably  gave 
up  the  intercourse  with  a  person  of  whom  I  could  not  ap- 
prove, on  board  ship.' 

Alick  colored  : '  Indeed,  sir,  I  do  not  deserve  that  com- 
mendation ;  I  was  not  ready  to  give  up  his  society,  but  he 
himself  positively  refused  to  allow  me  to  carry  on  the 
acquaintance  against  your  will.' 

'  He  was  afraid  of  his  superior  officers,' 

'  No  ;  he  proved  to  me  out  of  the  law  of  Moses  that 
to  disobey  my  parents  was  a  very  great  offence  in  God's 
sight.' 

'  He  spoke  truth  :  it  was  punishable  with  death.' 

'  So  he  told  me,  sir,  and  also  that  the  command,  so  far 
from  being  abrogated,  was  confirmed  by — by — ' 

^  By  the  Christian  religion,  I  suppose  1  very  likely ;  for 


116  judah's  lion. 

I  remember  seeing  in  a  church  the  law  of  the  ten  com- 
mandments very  conspicuously  displayed  in  gill  letters, 
on  what  they  consider  the  most  sacred  part  of  the  build- 
ing. I  am  glad,  however,  to  find  that  the  old  seaman 
was  so  honest.' 

Here  the  matter  dropped :  but  Alick  had  got  a  new 
idea  out  of  which  to  frame  a  question  for  Mrs.  Ryan. 

'  Do  you  imitate  the  Temple,  and  the  synagogue 
worship  in  your  churches'?'  said  he.  'Have you  the  ark 
there  V 

'  No  ;  what  makes  you  think  so  V 

'  Only,  my  father  was  talking  of  your  deeming  a  part 
of  your  churches  more  holy  than  any  other  part.' 

'  Indeed  we  do  not ;  or  if  any  do,  they  have  no  warrant 
either  of  Scripture  or  of  our  church  for  their  superstitious 
notion.  There  is  a  table  in  all  our  places  of  worship,  on 
which  the  bread  and  wine  are  placed,  at  the  celebration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  this  table  is  ordered  to  be  put 
on  one  side  when  not  wanted.  Unhappily,  most  of  our 
older  churches  were  built  during  the  domination  of 
Popery  ;  and  as  they  have  a  pagan  altar,  and  a  recess  in 
the  east  end  always  to  fix  it  in,  surmounted  and  surround- 
ed with  such  things  as  you  saw  in  the  Captain's  cabin,  we, 
for  convenience'  sake,  had  our  table  set  there  ;  and  to  fill 
up  the  space  that  was  stripped  of  the  idolatrous  images 
and  pictures,  we,  very  properly,  exhibit  the  ten  com- 
mandments, of  which,  you  know,  one  solemnly  prohibits 
what  we  by  God's  grace  have  abjured.  Gradually  the 
bringing  of  the  table  out  into  the  chancel  or  body  of  the 
church,  was  discontinued,  and  the  congregation  directed 
to  go  up  to  it  instead ;  and  for  the  preservation  of  the 
articles  laid  upon  it,  and  to  prevent  inconvenient  pres- 
sure, a  railing  was  thrown  across.  From  this,  some 
ignorant  people  came  to  attach  a  sort  of  sanctity  to  what 
was  so  exclusive :  and  the  error — as  error  always  does — 


JUDAIl's    LION.  117 

Spread  a  good  deal.  The  table  is  even  called  an  altar  by 
some,  though  we  allow  of  no  sacritice  but  the  sacrifice  of 
thanksgiving  offered  up  on  the  altar  of  our  hearts,  and 
made  acceptable  by  Christ's  sacrifice.  No  person  who 
studies  the  Bible  can  be  led  away  into  the  unscriptural 
foil}'  of  attributing  to  any  one  part  of  a  Christian  house  of 
prayer  greater  holiness  than  to  any  other  part ;  nor  can  a 
person  who  reads  the  canons  and  other  formularies  of  our 
church  convict  her  of  countenancing  it.' 

'  I  am  glad  I  asked  you,  ma'am,'  said  Alick  5  '  for  to 
confess  the  truth,  the  more  I  see  of  your  wide  separation 
from  this  disgusting  idolatry,  the  more  willing  I  am  to 
listen  to  your  opinions.  I'm  sure  I  owe  a  great  deal  to 
you  :  I  have  learned  to  love  my  own  people,  and  the 
God  of  my  people,  far  better  since  I  listened  to  your  in- 
struction ;  and  if  I  don't  believe  all  that  you  do,  it  is  be- 
cause I  have  not  yet  found  it  plainly  declared  in  my  own 
Scriptures,  which  I  know  to  be  God's  word,  and  by  which 
I  am  resolved  to  judge  of  everything  I  hear.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  was  deeply  interested  by  her  young  com- 
panion's state  of  feeling;  and  rejoiced  at  the  sturdy  deter- 
mination which  he  expressed,  to  believe  nothing  that  mili- 
tated against  Moses  and  the  prophets.  She  was,  however, 
about  to  enjoy  the  assistance  of  a  very  unexpected  aux- 
iliary in  the  good  work.  Two  days  after,  they  passed 
Cape  Colonna  ;  while  slowly  bending  their  course  close 
by  a  small  rocky  island,  a  boat  was  seen  to  put  off  from 
its  shore,  and  to  row  evidently  towards  their  bark.  Alick 
was  on  deck,  Charley  on  his  knee,  watching  a  most 
glorious  sunset,  and  pleasantly  chatting',  when  this  boat 
engaged  their  attention,  and  the  warning  of  the  steers- 
man that  she  was  making  for  them,  elicited  a  great  many 
guesses  and  playful  remarks,  as  to  who  could  be  coming 
to  pay  them  a  visit.  '  Some  nice  little  boy,  Charley, 
11* 


118  JUDAH^S   LlONi 

to  romp  about  with  you,  and  to  put  your  poor  Jew  friend 


into  a  corner.' 


'  No,  Mr.  Alick,  nobody  can  do  that,  sure  they  can't ! 
Ah  !  I  love  you  with  all  the  veins  of  my  heart ;  I  do,  I 
do,'  and  he  hugged  him  warmly. 

'  Time  will  show,  Charley  ;  I'm  desperately  afraid  of 
a  rival.' 

The  boat  neared,  and  soon  hailed  them,  and  a  gentle- 
man stood  up,  at  sight  of  whom  Charley  gave  a  sudden 
start,  and  changed  color,  staring  at  Alick  in  evident  per- 
plexity :  but  the  sound  of  a  loud,  cheerful,  bold  voice,  ask- 
ing, in  not  very  perfect  Italian,  whether  there  was  a  lady 
on  board,  put  an  end  to  Charley's  difficulties  ;  he  strug-- 
gled  most  violently  to  get  free  from  Alick,  who  held  him 
fast  on  account  of  the  sudden  stir  on  board,  and  shrieked 
out  '  Papa !  papa  !' 

A  very  few  seconds  elapsed  after  this  outcry,  ere  a  fine^ 
officer-like  man  sprang  on  deck;  and  Alick,  not  a  little 
astonished  at  the  sudden  verification  of  his  playful  prog- 
nostics, allowed  the  boy  to  leap  from  his  arms  into  those 
of  his  delighted  father,  and  then  with  a  right  creditable 
feeling  ran  down  to  apprise  Mrs.  Ryan  in  the  least  start- 
ling way  he  could,  of  the  arrival  of  her  husband,  and  hast- 
ened to  his  own  little  berth. 

His  first  feeling  was  one  of  vexation,  at  being  interrupt- 
ed and  rivalled  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  intercourse  with 
his  friends  :  but  this  gave  place  to  satisfaction  in  the  pros- 
pect of  such  an  addition  as  Capt.  Ryan  promised  to  be  to 
their  party.  He  v,'as  wonderfully  pleased  with  his  trum- 
pet-toned voice,  the  elasticity  of  his  step,  the  spirit  of  his 
movements,  and  above  all,  with  the  fi'-e  of  an  eye  that 
melted  at  once  into  the  softest  tenderness  when  his  little 
boy  rushed  towards  him;  and  even  at  that  moment,  a 
smile  of  courteous  apology  seemed  to  crave  Alick's  in- 
dulgence for  his  young  charge's  rudeness,  and  to  thank 


JUDAIl's    LION.  119 

him  for  his  care.  '  He  is  a  fine  fellow,  and  a  nice  fellow, 
or  I  am  much  mistaken,'  thought  Alick  ;  '  and  I  can  con- 
tradict him  flat  in  an  argument,  instead  of  the  round-about, 
polite  way  I  have  to  contradict  the  lady  in.' 

His  soliloquies  were  interrupted  by  Charley,  who, 
bouncing  in,  and  jumping,  said,  'No,  not  even  papa  shall 
put  you  into  a  corner,  you  love  of  a  Jew !  I'm  come  to 
tell  you  so :  and  papa  says  you  are  the  broth  of  a  boy,  for 
taking  care  of  me  ;  and  he  will  love  you  too.' 

'  The  broth  of  a  boy !  What's  that  1  I  never  was 
boiled  '— 

'  Oh,  that's  an  Irish  saying.  They  call  O'Connell  the 
broth  of  a  boy,  and  we  call  McGhee  the  broth  of  a  boy.' 

'  Then  it's  a  compliment,  1  suppose  :  but  without  your 
explanation  I  should  have  thought  it  a  questionable  one.' 

Very  soon  afterwards.  Captain  Ryan  appeared  on  deck 
again,  where  Charley  had  led  his  friend,  and  with  the 
most  polished  suavity  of  manner,  combined  with  great 
frankness,  bowed  to  Alick,  then  extended  his  hand,  and 
warmly  thanked  him  for  his  care  of  Charley  ;  adding, 
*  His  dear  mother  says  you  have  quite  taken  charge  of 
him  ;  and  saved  him  from  many  an  hour's  confinement  to 
the  cabin  below,  by  enabling  her  to  feel  how  perfectly 
safe  he  was  under  your  guardianship.' 

'  Indeed,  sir,'  said  Alick,  '  no  small  part  of  the  obliga- 
tion is  on  my  side.  I  should  have  been  very  dull  without 
the  society  of  my  little  friend  and  his  mamma :  and  much 
more  io-norant  than  I  am,  but  for  their  instructions,'  he 
added,  while  Charley's  eyes  danced  with  deliglit,  as  he 
looked  at  his  father ;  who,  fixing  a  gaze  on  the  young 
Jew  that  bespoke  a  feeling  of  most  intense  and  affection- 
ate interest,  said,  '  My  dear  Cohen,  the  hand  that  brought 
you  together  in  this  small  vessel,  is  one  that  does  nothing 
in  vain.' 

Captain  Ryan  was  one  of  those  sensible  men  who  know 


120  JUDAh's  LIONi 

that  by  an  instant  avowal  of  their  real  characters  and  feel- 
ings, as  disciples  of  the  Lord,  they  shall  save  themselves 
much  probable  embarrassment,  and  avoid  many  snares. 
He  could  not  agree  vi'ith  some,  who,  in  order  not  to 
startle  or  alarm  prematurely  such  as  they  hope,  neverthe- 
less, to  do  good  to,  hold  back  the  distinguishing  badge  of 
their  service,  and  to  the  worldly  become  as  worldlings 
that  they  may  gain  the  worldly, — a  very  dangerous  and 
mistaken  parody  on  the  apostle's  proceedings  with  regard 
to  others.  He  never  lost  any  time  in  committing  him- 
self, that  he  might  the  sooner  be  actively  engaged ;  and 
no  man  was  better  fitted,  as  to  natural  gifts,  for  a  combat 
of  the  kind — no  man  more  unreservedly  threw  himself  on 
divine  help,  and  the  wisdom  that  com-eth  from  above.  He 
was  exceedingly  energetic,  full  of  vivacity,  perpetually  ia 
motion,  using  much,  but  by  no  means  extravagant  or  af- 
fected gesticulation.  In  his  language,  plain,  blunt,  and 
with  a  constant  vein  of  Irish  humor  that  sparkled  in  his 
eye,  and  played  about  his  smiling  mouth.  A  noble  fore- 
head, with  a  profusion  of  sandy  hair,  that  defied  the  hand 
of  art  to  keep  its  curls  in  any  order.  Added  to  all  this, 
the  military  gait,  and  quick,  comprehensive  glance  that 
seemed  to  take  in  all  around  him,  formed  a  person  so  un- 
like any  that  Alick  had  lately  seen,  or  ever  associated 
with,  that  he  was  perfectly  delighted,  and  felt  a  most  long- 
ing desire  to  plunge  into  all  the  depths  of  the  subjects  that 
exercised  his  mind,  with  a  person  so  evidently  able  and 
willing  to  encounter  any  antagonist.  '  I  like  these  Chris- 
tians more  and  more,'  said  he  to  himself,  '  that  is,  the 
Christians  who  seem  to  understand  the  things  they  profess 
to  believe ;  and  who,  because  they  think  themselves  in 
the  right,  try  to  make  others  agree  with  them  instead  of 
despising  them  for  differing,  or,  what  comes  to  the  same 
thing,  not  caring  whether  the  rest  of  the  world  go  right 
or  wrong.     What  noble  Jews  they  would  make,  Gordon, 


judah's  lion.  121 

and  Ryan,  and  my  little  Charley  also  :  but  God  alone  can 
make  a  Jew  ;  so  it  is  of  no  use  my  wishing  they  were  of 
the  children  of  Abraham.'  Alick  did  not  yet  know  that 
God  alone  can  make  a  Christian. 

It  was  a  beautiful  moonlight  night ;  and  as  Alick  re- 
clined on  the  bulwarks,  musing  over  the  deep  blue  sea, 
after  the  usual  hour  of  rest,  he  was  surprised  to  see  Mrs. 
Ryan  approach,  leaning  on  her  husband's  arm.  She 
greeted  him  with  affectionate  warmth,  and  said,  '  You  see, 
I  am  not  slow  in  availing  myself  of  this  unexpected  privi- 
lege, to  enjoy  what,  as  a  solitary  female,  I  could  not  in- 
dulge myself  in — the  still  air  of  night,  and  the  lovely 
moonbeams  on  the  water.' 

*  I  have  often  regretted  it,  ma'am,'  replied  Alick,  'when 
I  have  sat  here  alone,  only  half  pleased  with  the  beauties 
that  surrounded  me,  because  I  had  no  one  to  join  in  ad- 
miring them.  I  don't  know,  though,  whether  I  ought  to 
regret  it ;  for  I  assure  you  those  lonely  hours  have  helped 
very  much  to  fix  on  my  mind  things  that  you  have  taught 
me  during  the  little  time  we  passed  together.' 

'  You  are  a  most  unprejudiced  fellow,'  said  Captain 
Ryan. 

'  Not  much  to  my  credit,  sir :  had  I  been  a  better 
Jew,  I  should  have  had  more  prejudices ;  but  the  fact  is, 
I  was  neither  one  thing  nor  another.' 

'And  what  are  you  now,  Cohen  V 

'  A  Jew,  Captain  Ryan  :  by  natural  descent  and  inherit- 
ance ;  by  profession ;  and,  I  am  thankful  to  say,  by  most 
deliberate  choice  and  conviction  ;  if  it  were  a  matter 
where  a  man  might  choose  whether  he  would  be  of  royal 
blood  or  no.'  His  innate  politeness  made  him  blush  at 
the  consciousness  that  he  had  spoken  these  words  in  a 
tone  and  with  a  manner  too  haughty  for  his  years ;  but 
the  smile  that  they  elicited  from  his  friends  was  one  of 
affectionate  gratification,  and  he  felt  quite  at  ease. 


122  JUDAIl'S  LION. 

'  I  wish,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  you  would  adopt  the 
language  of  a  countryman  of  yours,  who  was  exceedingly 
tenacious  of  the  high  privilege  in  which  you  glory  :  he 
says,  "  We  that  are  Jews  by  nature,  and  not  sinners  of 
the  Gentiles,  knowing  that  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the 
works  of  the  law  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ ;  even 
WE  have  believed  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might  be  justi- 
fied by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not  by  the  works  of  the 
law  ;  for  by  the  works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be  justi- 
fied." ' 

'I  partly  understand  that,'  said  Alick,  thoughtfully, 
*  for  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that  the  works 
which  Ben-Melchor  thinks  so  needful  and  beneficial — long 
fasts,  exposure  to  cold,  prayers  recited  by  the  dozen,  and 
various  positions  of  body  to  be  gone  through,  will  do  any- 
thing towards  obtaining  God's  favor  hereafter/ 

'  Ben-Melchor  !   have  you  got  him  on  board  V 

'  Yes  ;  do  you  know  him  V 

'  As  an  old,  most  subtle  antagonist ;  he  has  often  acted 
the  part  of  Elymas,  in  seeking  to  turn  away  some  in- 
quirer from  the  faith.     Beware  of  his  sophistries.' 

'  I  am  in  no  danger  of  him  :  he  tries  to  dissuade  me 
from  reading  the  Scriptures,  which  is  as  if  a  man  in  the 
dark,  going  to  look  for  some  treasure,  was  to  begin  by 
blowing  out  his  candle.' 

'  You  are  right :  hold  fast  that  doctrine,  for  it  is  the 
root  of  all  the  rest.  And  now,  since  you  admit  that  the 
way  of  justification  is  not  by  man's  doings  or  deservings 
— in  Paul's  words,  "  not  by  the  works  of  the  law" — tell 
me,  how  do  you,  in  your  own  person,  expect  to  be  justi- 
fied before  God  V 

'  I  am  not  sure  that  I  exactly  understand  your  mean- 
ing.' 

'  My  meaning  is  this  :  you  are  mortal — you  must  die, 
you  must  appear  before  God  to  give  account  of  yourself ; 


judah's  lion.  123 

you  are  a  sinner — you  must  be  forgiven  your  iniquities, 
and  moreover  counted  worthy  of  reward  and  exaltation  ; 
for  there  is  no  medium, — if  you  escape  hell  you  must  en- 
joy heaven.  Now,  Cohen,  how  will  you  escape  hell — 
how  will  you  enter  into  heaven  V 

This  was  a  plain  question,  plainly  put.  Alick  had  never 
felt  so  startled,  so  perplexed.  Hitherto  his  inquiries  had 
rather  tended  to  the  abstract  question  between  Judaism 
and  Christianity  ;  and  temporal  consequences  —  what 
should  become  of  his  people,  and  of  him  as  one  among 
them,  were  his  principal  object.  The  matter  was  now 
brought  home  to  him  :  placed  in  a  new  light,  and  made 
one  of  salvation  or  destruction  to  himself.  He  had  no 
answer  ready  ;  and  before  he  could  frame  one,  Captain 
Ryan  resumed,  as  it  appeared,  very  irrelevantly  to  what 
he  had  last  said,  '  Tell  me,  Cohen,  to  what  cause  do  you 
attribute  the  prolonged  dispersion,  depression,  destruction 
of  your  people  V 

Alick,  with  some  little  asperity,  answered,  '  I  know  you 
think  it  is  because  our  fathers  crucified  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth.' 

'•  I  think  no  such  thing.  I  believe  and  am  sure  that  the 
calamities  which  overtook  Jerusalem  and  her  people  were 
the  consequences  of  that  fearful  deed  ;  but  far  be  it  from 
me  to  say  that  "  the  fathers  have  eaten  sour  grapes,  and 
the  children's  teeth  are  set  on  edge."  No  :  the  cause  of 
your  continued  affliction  is  your  still  stumbling,  from 
generation  to  generation,  at  that  "  stone  of  stumbling." 
Israel  is  still  outcast,  because  "  they,  going  about  to  es- 
tablish their  own  righteousness,  would  not  submit  to  the 
righteousness  of  God."  "Because  of  unbelief  they  were 
broken  off;"  "  and  they,  if  they  abide  not  in  unbelief, 
shall  be  grafted  in  again,"  Such  is  the  language  of  that 
Jew  whose  words  I  before  quoted.' 

'  You  surprise  me,  Captain  Ryan.     I  always  understood 


124  judah's  lion, 

that  Christians  despise  and  abhor  us  entirely  on  that  ac- 
count.' 

'  I  know  it  is  a  common  error ;  but  an  error  it  is,  hav- 
ing no  foundation  in  Scripture.  I  repudiate  it ;  I  hold 
you  "beloved  for  the  fathers'  sake,"  as  a  people;  and  if 
not  now  enjoying  God's  favor,  it  is  because  you  will  not 
look  to  Christ,  and  seek  salvation  through  him.  The  pro- 
mises are  yours,  but  they  are  of  no  avail  to  you,  being 
impenetrably  sealed,  with  seals  that  only  the  Lion  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah  has  power  to  open.  Ask  of  him,  and  he 
will  remove  every  impediment  to  your  full  possession  of 
all  those  precious  promises.  Not  the  transgressions  of 
your  fathers,  but  your  own  transgressions  separate  between 
you  and  him.  When  you  know  him  as  your  Savior, 
and  hail  in  him  your  long-expected  Messiah,  you  will  in- 
deed mourn  in  bitterness  of  heart  the  cruelties  heaped  on 
him  by  those  whom  he  came  to  seek  and  to  save  ;  but  for 
the  present,  deal  with  him  only  as  concerns  the  salvation  of 
your  soul ;  believe  that  God  hath  set  him  forth  as  a  propi- 
tiation for  sin  ;  and  suffer  not  the  question  to  slumber  till 
you  have  satisfactorily  solved  it  from  the  pages  of  the 
Holy  Bible — how  you  shall  escape  hell ;  how  you  shall 
obtain  an  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 


CHAPTER    X 


The  more  Allck  Cohen  pondered  upon  the  conver- 
sation that  had  passed  on  the  deck,  the  more  out  of 
humor  he  felt,  and  the  more  disposed  to  find  fault  with 
his  new  acquaintance.  The  home  question,  so  plainly, 
so  unexpectedly  put,  seemed  to  ring  in  his  ears,  with 
all  the  emphasis  of  earnest  interrogation  that  had 
marked  its  delivery.  He  had  no  answer  ;  and  in  such 
cases  the  enemy  of  souls  ever  suggests  evasions,  or 
raises  objections  that  will  prevail  to  harden  the  con- 
science, and  to  seal  up  the  mind  in  deeper  darkness 
than  before,  if  a  stronger  than  he  be  not  working  in 
the  heart  of  the  sinner.  But  Alick's  case  was  not  of 
this  character :  two  devoted  servants  of  the  Lord, 
equally  anxious  for  the  soul  of  an  erring  brother, 
speaking  the  truth  to  him  in  love,  with  boldness  and 
simplicity,  then  together  pouring  out  prayer  for  a 
blessing  on  the  seed  so  cast,  will  shake  the  pillars  of 
Satan's  throne,  be  it  established  where  it  may.  The 
very  fact  of  being  brought  into  contact  with  an  un- 
converted person,  and  finding  both  will  and  opportuni- 
ty given  to  plead  with  him,  and  a  desire  to  seek  the 
Lord  on  his  behalf,  will  encourage  any  true  Christian 
confidently  to  believe  that  there  is  a  purpose  of  mer- 
cy towards  that  sinner,  and  that  the  set  time  to  favor 
him  is  come. 

12 


l26  judah's  lio:n. 

Our  dear  young  Jew  could  not  account  for  the  ex- 
treme fretfulness  of  his  feeling  when  left  alone. 
'Pho  !'  thought  he,  'why  need  I  trouble  my  head  with 
the  officious  talk  of  a  stranger  who  knows  nothing 
ahout  me  1  Of  course,  as  a  Jew,  this  upstart  Gentile 
thinks  I  must  needs  be  on  the  high  road  to  Gehenna. 
I  wonder  what  road  his  ancestors  were  on,  when  mine 
were  the  acknowledged  people  of  Jehovah,  the  glory 
and  terror  of  the  world !'  He  took  one  prcmd,  strid- 
ing turn  upon  the  little  deck,  while  a  vision  of  Jeru- 
salem's ancient  grandeur — her  temple,  her  Sheckinah, 
and  all  the  magnificence  of  her  kingly  pomp  in  Solo- 
mon's day,  shone  before  his  mental  sight  j  then  resum- 
ed his  soliloquy — "  If  all  these  glories  are  departed, 
Zion  become  a  desolation,  ploughed  as  a  field,  left  as  a 
besieged  city,  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers,  her 
children  scattered,  peeled,  become  a  proverb,  a  bye- 
word,  and  a  reproach — exposed  to  the  taunts,  and  still 
worse,  to  the  impertinent  preaching  of  the  lowest  of 
the  Goim  j  if,' — here  his  feelings  overpowered  him  : 
he  sat  down,  and  resting  his  folded  arms  on  the  bul- 
warks, laid  his  head  upon  them,  murmuring,  '  Oh,  will 
the  God  of  our  fathers  never  forgive — never  restore 
his  people  to  his  love  !' 

Tears,  which  had  seldom  dimmed  his  bright  joyous 
eyes,  stole  down  for  a  few  moments,  and  he  felt  re- 
lieved. '  Well,  I  am  wrong  to  blame  this  worthy  man 
for  wishing  me  well  after  his  way.  He  spoke  of  the 
Lion  too  ;  and  now  I'll  go  read  those  glorious  pro- 
phetic blessings  of  my  father  Abraham,  and  forget 
this  little  vexation.'  What  the  little  vexation  was, 
Alick  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  explain — it  was 
simply  that  he  had  been  asked  how  he  should  be  saved 
and  he  could  not  find  an  answer. 

To  the  book  of  Genesis  he  now  turned,  by  the  light 


judah's  lion.  127 

of  his  friendly  lantern,  and  read  with  a  swelling  heart 
till  he  came  to  the  words,  "  The  sceptre  shall  not  de- 
part from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet 
until  Shiloh  come ;  and  unto  him  shall  the  gathering 
of  the  people  be."  Gen.  xlix.  10.  He  had  heard  the 
Christian  interpretation  of  this  passage  insisted  on 
more  than  once  by  his  Gentile  friends  ;  and  now  it 
struck  him  with  a  force  that  quite  arrested  his  reading. 
'  I  will  know  the  meaning  of  this,'  said  he  ;  '  I'll  ask 
my  father,  Ben-Melchor,  every  Jew  I  meet,  till  I  get 
at  the  right  inference.  The  sceptre  is  departed,  the 
lawgiver  has  ceased  :  and  therefore  Shiloh  is  come. 
Shiloh  !  that  has  something  to  do  with  peace  and  bless- 
edness ;  and  no  peace  for  poor  Israel  since  her  scep- 
tre departed,  but  a  sword  drawn  out  after  us  ;  no  bless- 
edness, but  a  curse.  Now  suppose,  just  for  one  mo- 
ment suppose  the  Christians  were  right,  and  that  Jesus 
was — is  our  Messiah — (if  the  thought  be  blasphemy 
may  I  be  forgiven  !)  suppose  it  true  that  we  rejected 
him,  and  are  scattered  for  so  doing,  then  it  would  fol- 
low that  whenever  we  returned  to  him,  our  blessings 
would  return  to  us.  Time  will  show  ;  meanwhile,  I 
will  go  with  my  people.  When  they  confess  him,  I'll 
confess  him.  I'll  wait  for  that  time  patiently  ;  and  so, 
Captain  Ryan,  your  question  is  answered.'  He  resum- 
ed his  readings  but  in  a  moment  after  a  dreadful 
crash  was  heard,  the  planks  vibrated  under  his  feet,  a 
scream  followed,  and  he  rushed  to  the  foreship  whence 
it  proceeded  ;  where,  also,  in  a  few  seconds  all  the  lit- 
tle crew  were  assembled,  together  with  the  gentlemen 
from  below.  A  heavy  mass  of  coiled  chain  had  fallen 
from  its  position,  and  under  it  lay  the  head  of  a  youth 
about  his  own  age,  a  young  sailor  whose  cheerful 
good-humored  countenance  and  obliging  ways  had 
rendered  him  a  general  favorite.     With  all  speed  the 


128  judah's  lion. 

chain  was  lifted  from  him,  but  a  bruised  and  bleeding 
mass   was   all  that  appeared  of  that  smiling  face  and 
graceful  head.     Instantaneous    destruction    had  over- 
taken  him  ;  no   spark    of  life   remained  ;  and  as  the 
spectators  sadly  and  silently  drew  back,    leaving  the 
youth's  dead  body  in  the  hands  of  his  shipmates,  Alick 
encountered  Captain  Ryan,  who  grasped  his  hand  with- 
out uttering  a  word,  and  casting  up  a  look  peculiarly 
humble  and  sorrowful  towards  heaven,  passed  on.     It 
was   wisely  done  to  refrain  from  speaking   at  such  a 
fflfioment  j  the  spectacle  before  them  was  the  voice  of 
him  before  whom  man  must  be  silent.     Alick  assisted 
his  father  back  to  his  cabin,  surprised  and  alarmed  at 
the  extreme  tremor  of  a  robust  frame  which  he  knew 
■  enclosed  a  most  intrepid  spirit.     He  hastily  gave  him 
a  cordial,  after  which  Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  This  sea-sick- 
ness unnerves  a  man,  Alick  ;  but  indeed  the    stoutest 
might  tremble  at  being  startled  from  sleep  to  behold 
such  a  fearful  sight.     You  are  pale  and  cold  too,  my 
dear  boy  j  take  a  glass  yourself.     Really    you    think 
more  of  any  one  than  of  one  who  is  of  more   value 
than  half  the  rest.' 

'  Perhaps,  father,  that  poor  boy  was  of  far  greater 
value  than  I.  Some  widowed  mother  might  depend 
on  his  aid  i  some  helpless  sister  may  be  left  unpro- 
tected.' 

'  God  is  good,  Alick  ;  we  must  hope  the  best.' 
'  Aye,  father  ;  but  God  is  just  too  j  and  how  terrible 
are  his  denunciations  against  idolatry  !' 

Mr.  Cohen  was  silent ;  Alick  expected  a  reproof  for 
his  illiberal  remark,  but  to  his  great  surprise  his  fa- 
ther, after  a  moment's  pause,  said,  <  In  truth,  that  was 
what  caused  my  emotion.  Poor,  poor  fellow!  I  heard 
him  not  half  an  hour  ago  chanting  in  a  low  tone  his 
devotions  to  some  false  god  or  goddess,     I  knew  his 


JUBAH^S  LIONi  1'29 

^ne  voice  well,  and  used  to  listen  with  pleasure,  and 
really,  Alick,  my  conscience  smote  me  dreadfully  to 
think  that  I  had  found  gratification  in  what  had  cost 
him  his  soul. ' 

'  Well,  father,  do  lie  down  now.  We  are  in  life^ 
blessed  be  the  Holy  One  of  Israel !  and  may  we  never 
be  called  unprepared.'  •■ 

Mr.  Cohen  blessed  him — it  was  a  custom  that  he 
rarely  observed,  though  among  his  nation  generally  it 
is  regarded  as  a  regular  duty :  but  in  fact,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Esther,  Mr.  Cohen's  household  were  Jews 
but  in  name  and  race.  Alick's  heart  leaped  as  he 
heard  the  solemn  benediction  uttered;  he  kissed  his 
father's  hand,  and  retired  to  his  little  berth — the  deck 
he  did  not  wish  to  approach ;  for  he  shrank  from  en^ 
countering  again  that  horrifying  spectacle.  'Poor 
lad  !'  thought  he  :  '  oh,  that  the  question  had  been  put 
to  him  which  was  put  to  me,  and  that  he  had  consid' 
ered  it,  and  answered  it  in  time  !  This  is  a  warning 
to  me :  I  must  not  trifle  now — the  next  head  that  is 
crushed  may  be  my  own.' 

He  stood  up,  and  with  a  lowly  spirit  he  prayed  to 
the  God  of  his  fathers  to  become  his  teacher.  He 
pleaded  the  mercy  shown  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob ;  and  all  the  rich  promises  to  their  seed.  He  asked 
to  be  kept  from  error,  and  to  be  made  willing  to  re- 
ceive truth:  and  though  the  name  that  is  above  every 
name  was  not  spoken  by  his  lips  in  that  whispered 
prayer,  his  heart  yearned  towards  the  Crucified,  and 
its  secret  language  to  him  was  that  of  the  doubting 
suppliant.  '  If  thou  can'st  do  anything,  have  com- 
passion on  us  and  help  us.' 

He  sat  down,  with  a  feeling  of  encouragement  quite 
new  to  him,  and  without  hesitation  began  to  read  the 
Gospel  of  St.  John.  The  decided  language  roused  his 
12* 


130  judah's  lion, 

attention  more  than  anything  in  the  New  Testament 
had  done.  "  The  Word  was  God...  The  Word  became 
flesh  and  dwelt  among  us...  He  came  unto  his  own, 
and  his  own  received  him  not ;  but  to  as  many  as  re- 
ceived him  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons 
of  God."  '  Why  ;  here  is  the  whole  matter  in  a  nut- 
shell,— according  to  this,  Jesus  would  be  Godj  his 
own,  that  is,  the  Jews,  would  not  receive  him,  and  were 
cast  off;  others,  that  is,  the  Gentiles,  received  him, 
and  so  obtained  our  place  and  privileges.  Can  this  be  V 
He  read  on  and  came  to  the  Baptist's  testimony — "  Be- 
hold the  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of 
the  world !"  '  That  alludes  to  the  lamb  slain  in  sa- 
crifice, which  the  Christians  say  was  a  type.  I  re- 
member the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  who  alone 
was  worthy  to  open  the  seals  of  the  book,  is  describe 
ed  as  a  lamb  that  had  been  slain  ;  and  Jesus  said  to 
John,  "  I  am  He  that  liveth  and  was  dead,  and  behold  I 
am  alive  for  evermore."  How  these  passages  do  dove- 
tail into  one  another  %  "  Taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world" — how  1  not  in  the  lump,  I  should  think  :  for  the 
sacrifices  were  of  no  avail  except  to  those  who  ob- 
served them  as  an  ordinance  of  God.  The  Israelite 
had  to  lay  his  iiand  on  the  animal's  head  and  confess 
his  own  sins,  in  order  to  partake  of  the  benefit ;  and 
then  they  were  carried  away  into  the  wilderness — car- 
ried away  :  "  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world," — 
another  coincidence.  So  then,  I  must,  if  this  be 
truth,  have  my  sins  taken  away  by  this  Lamb  of  God. 
What  sins  can  1  have  committed,  to  need  such  a  re- 
moval V 

Here  was  the  turning-point :  Alick  closed  the  book, 
and  began  to  examine  his  past  life. 

He  had  no  settled  standard  by  which  to    measure 
himself  j  at  last  he  thought  he  must  take  the  cercrao- 


judah's  lion.  131 

nial  law,  and  all  that  the  Jews  recognized  as  binding 
on  them,  for  the  purpose  5  but  it  struck  him  that  the 
Gentiles,  who  had  by  receiving  Christ  beconne  sons, 
could  not  have  that  law  as  a  rule  ;  therefore  he  sought 
for  something  common  to  all  men.  He  recollected 
that  his  father  had  said,  and  Mrs.  Ryan  also,  that  the 
ten  commandmentswere  exhibited  in  Christian  church- 
es, an  universal  code  of  divine  law  ;  and  on  this  ground 
he  selected  the  precise  rule  by  which  any  true  believ- 
er would  have  directed  him  to  try  himself.  Turning 
to  Exodus  XX.  he  began,  and  the  reading  of  the  first 
commandment  afforded  him  perfect  satisfaction;  'I 
neither  have  had,  nor  will  have,  any  other  God  but  the 
Lord  my  God,  who  brought  my  fathers  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage.'  The  second 
delighted  him  still  more,  'Oh,  I  am  not  only  clear  in 
this  matter,  but  I  have  borne  an  open  testimony  in  the 
public  streets  against  the  sin  of  idolatry.  If  all  goes 
on  like  this,  I  may  be  easy  enough.'  The  third  start- 
led him.  '  Well,  I  have  used  that  name  too  lightly,  in 
a  moment  of  anger  or  levity.  I  have  taken  it  in  vain  ; 
may  the  Holy  One  forgive  me  !'  He  would  have  pro- 
ceeded, but  was  unable.  '  This  is  a  sin,  and  I  as  an 
Israelite  should  have  to  confess  it  on  the  head  of  the 
animal,  to  be  forgiven.  Well,  there's  no  scape-goat 
nor  lamb  for  a  sacrifice  here,  so  how  can  I  \  "Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world  !"  I  see  how  a  Christian  would  apply  it.  But 
this  was  only  a  fault  of  the  tongue  :  I  meant  no  sin, 
and  surely  it  will  be  forgiven.  I  won't  be  guilty  of  it 
again.  He  read  the  fourth,  and  was  confounded,  'I 
know  how  strictly  our  people  keep  this  day,  though 
we  did  not.  The  Christians  have  a  sabbath,  too,  and 
finely  they  keep  it !  Men-servants  driving  their  car- 
riages about:    maid-servants   cooking  rich   dinners; 


132  JUDAH's   LlONi 

cattle  fagged  to  death  ;  and  the  stranger  within  theiif 
gates  coming  and  going  by  means  of  such  poor  over- 
worked cattle,  and  feasted  by  the  labor  of  such  ser- 
vants. Come,  we  can  none  of  us  plead  innocence 
here.  If  I  were  the  master  of  a  house,  I'd  feel  un- 
comfortable ;  but  being  only  a  child  in  the  house,  I 
could  do  no  otherwise  than  my  parents  did,  who  have 
run  in  the  face  of  this  commandment  ever  since  I  can 
remember,  more  shame  to  them,'  said  Alick,  and  pass- 
ed on  to  the  fifth. 

This  proved  a  terrible  blow  to  him :  he  had  always 
loved  his  parents,  but  never  honored  them,  until  with- 
in a  few  days  his  feeling  towards  his  father  had  be- 
come more  respectful — better  suited  to  his  deportment. 
He  was  a  spoilt  child,  and  managed  them  both  by 
finesse,  and  encouraged  the  younger  children  to  carry 
any  point  by  teasing.  Of  their  respective  infirmities 
and  peculiarities  too,  he  had  accustomed  himself  to 
speak  very  freely  and  irreverently,  so  as  to  provoke 
many  rebukes  from  Esther,  and  not  a  few  from  his 
own  better  feeling.  In  short,  no  excuse  that  self-jus* 
tifying  plausibility  could  frame,  would  avail  him  here. 
He  had  habitually  and  systematically  broken  this  law 
— knowingly  too,  thanks  to  Esther  and  old  Susan,  who 
had  kept  him  perpetually  aware  of  his  fault:  and  how 
to  get  rid  of  this  weight  he  knew  not.  He  could  not 
make  light  of  it,  as  he  had  done  of  the  preceding  two 5 
and  his  distress  of  mind  was  great.  He  scarcely  no- 
ticed the  four  following,  but  the  tenth  confounded 
him.  'Not  covet?'  he  exclaimed;  'I  have  coveted 
everything  that  pleased  me,  no  matter  who  it  belong- 
ed to.  If  attainable,  I  have  purchased  it ;  if  not,  I  have 
gone  on  coveting  and  secretly  murmuring  about  it. 
These  four  commandments  condemn  me;  and  there 
are  many  and  many  things  not  specified  here,  which  I 


judah'slion.  133 

know  to  be  sinfully  wrong,  yet  I  have  done  them  times 
unnumbered  ;  and  even  if  I  were  forgiven  the  past, 
I  fear  I  should  be  doing  the  same  things,  through 
habit  or  thoughtlessness,  often  again.  Oh  for  a  lamb 
to  take  away  all  these  sins  ;  and  for  help  to  do  right  in 
future  !' 

The  more  he  reflected,  the  more  uneasy  he  became  ; 
memory  was  awake,  conscience  aroused,  and  he  quail- 
ed under  their  rapidly-succeeding  accusations.  It  was 
long  ere  he  slept,  and  on  rising  he  felt  ill  and  gloomy  ; 
'I  will  listen  to  no  more  of  their  talk;  I  am  young 
and  have  plenty  of  time  before  me ;' — here  the  recol- 
lection of  the  mangled  head  suddenly  startled  him; 
'_^0h  no,  I  must  not  reckon  on  life  ;  but  surely  I  need 
not  spoil  all  the  pleasure  of  the  voyage  by  brooding 
over  such  distressing  things.' 

When  he  went  on  deck  a  consultation  was  being 
held,  as  to  the  disposal  of  the  corpse.  The  weather 
was  sultry,  the  ship  small,  and  all  being  willing  to  at- 
test the  accidental  nature  of  the  poor  lad's  death,  the 
Captain  agreed  to  commit  him  to  the  deep,  which  was 
done  with  so  many  superstitious  observances  and  idol- 
atrous prayers  as  made  it  a  most  painful  spectacle. 
Mr.  Cohen  did  not  appear  till  it  was  over  ;  and  then  he 
was  introduced  to  Captain  Ryan,  to  whom  he  took  an 
extraordinary  liking  ; — doubly  extraordinary  in  Alick's 
sight,  contrasted  as  it  was  with  the  usual  polite  indif- 
ference of  his  deportment.  The  sad  event  of  the  pre- 
ceding night  was  soon  adverted  to,  and  Captain  Ryan 
strongly  animadverted  on  the  cruelty  of  that  system 
which  seals  up  the  souls  of  men  in  an  idolatrous  delu- 
sion. To  this  Mr.  Cohen  warmly  assented.  '  There 
are  great  differences  between  your  creed  and  ours,'  he 
remarked :  '  but  I  really  think  you  Protestants  abhor 
idolatry  equally  with  us.' 

'  We  do  indeed ;  yet  you  too  often  confound  us  with 


134  judah's  lion. 

those  who  practise  it ;  not  knowing  that  the  watchword 
of  our  faith  is,  like  yours,  "  Hear,  0  Israel  j  the  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord  !"  ' 

'  Did  you  hear  of  that  young  fellow's  adventure  in 
Malta  r 

'  I  did,  and  recognized  in  it  the  spirit  of  Gideon 
breaking  down  Baal's  altar.  May  the  God  of  his  fath- 
ers make  him  ever  valiant  for  the  truth !' 

'  In  order  to  be  so,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  very  thoughtful- 
ly, '  he  must  first  know  what  that  truth  is  ;  I  fear  we 
have  been  deficient  in  acquainting  him  with  things  most 
needful  to  be  learned.' 

Alick's  breath  was  well  nigh  gone  with  astonishment 
at  hearing  his  father  speak  thus  ;  he  began  to  fear  Ben- 
Melchor  had  been  infecting  him  with  his  Talmudism. 
Captain  Ryan  looked  doubtful  and  anxious.  '  It  is  a 
point  of  universal  interest  and  importance,  Mr.  Cohen, 
to  know  where  truth  may  be  found.  Permit  me  to  ask 
in  what  quarter  do  you  seek  it  V 

'In  that,  sir,  I  believe  we  are  both  agreed;  unques- 
tionably, all  truth  is  contained  in  the  word  of  God.' 

'And  in  the  oral  law,'  added  Ben-Melchor,  who  re- 
marked as  he  approached  that  the  speaker  raised  his 
voice,  and  directed  the  words  towards  him. 

'My  old  friend,  how  are  you  V  asked  Captain  Ryan, 
half  laughing  ;  while  Ben-Melchor  looked  the  extreme 
reverse  of  anything  mirthful ;  '  you  say  that  I  haunt 
you  through  every  land,  and  cross  your  path  in  every 
city  ;  and  I  fear  you  will  not  acquit  me  of  contriving 
this  unexpected  rencontre  on  the  bosom  of  the  waves.' 

'Meet  me  where  you  will,'  answered  the  Jew  fierce- 
ly, '  you  shall  not  contaminate  my  garment  by  the  un- 
clean doctrine  of  the  Nazarenes.' 

'  Indeed,  Josef,  I  hope  I  shall,  with  the  Lord's  bless- 
ing, convince  you  yet.     But  a  heart  of  flesh  must  be 


JUDAIl's  LION.  135 

given  before  the  law  of  the  Holy  One  can  be  engraven 
there,'  pointing  to  the  Jew's  side,  who  shrank  from 
him. 

'  You  have  spoken  words  of  blasphemy  against  our 
holy  religion,'  said  Ben-Melchor,  trembling  with  rage. 

'  I  have  not ;  your  holy  religion  is  mine,  except  that 
where  you  grasp  the  unfolded  bud  of  the  blossom,  I 
feast  on  the  ripe  fruit.  I  have  denounced,  and  I  will 
denounce  your  Rabbinical  absurdities,  not  one  half  of 
which  do  you  believe,  while  you  uphold  them  all  j  but 
your  religion,  Josef,  as  delineated  by  Moses  and  the 
prophets,  is  that  whereon  I  rest  my  faith,  my  hope,  my 
present  consolation,  and  everlasting  peace.  When 
my  blessed  Master  revealed  himself  as  the  risen  Sa- 
vior, the  promised  Messiah  of  Israel,  and  Redeemer 
of  the  world,  how  did  he  instruct  his  eleven  disciples  1 
By  opening  their  understandings  that  they  might  un- 
derstand the  Scriptures.  What  Scriptures '?  Yours, 
the  only  Scriptures  then  in  existence.  I  wish  you 
were  half  as  devoted  to  Moses  as  I  am  !' 

'  This  very  day,'  said  Ben-Melchor,  with  bitter  so- 
lemnity, '  and  in  this  very  vessel,  there  was  worship 
paid  to  idols  of  wood  and  of  stone,  made  and  fashion- 
ed by  men's  hands;  and  a  box  was  produced  wherein 
was  deposited  a  fragment  of  unleavened  paste,  turned 
by  the  magic  of  a  Christian  priest  into  the  body  of  the 
crucified,  whom  you  call  Jesus  ;  and  unto  this  did  the 
Christians  address  their  prayers,  kneeling  prostrate, 
in  supplication  for  the  soul's  safety  of  the  slain   man.' 

'  Then  they  committed  an  act  of  most  detestable 
idolatry,'  answered  Captain  Ryan  ;  'utterly  to  be  ab- 
horred of  all  Christian  men.  But,  Ben-Melchor,  why 
do  you  talk  thus  to  me  1  You  perfectly  know  that  the 
religion  of  these  people  is  not  my  religion,  but  that  it 
much  more  resembles  yours  ;  being  an  abuse  and  per- 


136  JUDAh's  LIONi 

version  of  the  truth — a  counterfeit  of  man's  devisincp. 
Leave  these  pretended  misapprehensions  alone,  Ben* 
Melchor,  and  meet  me  on  the  common  ground  of  God's 
inspired  word,  as  contained  in  the  Old  Testament,  but 
made  void  and  of  none  effect  to  you,  by  your  vain  tra- 
ditions received  from  your  fathers.' 

'  What  a  fine,  straightforward  fellow !'  whispered 
Mr.  Cohen  to  Alick  ;  '  but  that  old  fox  will  never  break 
cover,  and  come  out  into  open  day.' 

Charley  now  came  slowly  along  the  deck;  his 
cheeks  were  pale,  and  his  eyes  swollen,  and  he  stole  a 
timid  glance  towards  the  place  where  the  fatal  calam- 
ity had  occurred.  His  father  held  out  his  arms,  and 
the  boy  climbed  on  his  knee  and  smiled. 

'  Poor  fellow,'  said  the  Captain,  kissing  his  brow, 
'  you  look  sad ;  and  well  may  we  look  sad,  Charley, 
when  a  soul  has  passed  into  eternity  unprepared  for 
the  Lord's  summons.  They  have  buried  him  in  the 
deep,  there  to  remain  till  the  sea  gives  up  her  dead. 
We  must  not  despair,  for  who  knows  what  the  Al- 
mighty may  have  wrought,  even  in  a  moment  of  time, 
in  the  soul  of  that  poor  youth  1  but  it  is  an  awful 
thought,  Charles,  the  day  when  the  sea  shall  give  up 
the  dead  that  are  in  it.     What  will  happen  then  V 

In  a  low  solemn  tone,  the  boy  answered, — '  They 
shall  be  judged,  every  man  according  to  his  works j 
and  whosoever  is  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life, 
will  be  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire.' 

'  Had  you  not  a  little  bit  of  a  battle  with  that  gentle- 
man, Charley  V 

'  Yes,  papa.' 

'  Have  you  shaken  hands  with  him  since  V  ; 

'  No,  papa.' 

'  Then  go  and  do  it  now.' 

Charley  went  up  to  the  Jew,  and  held  out  his  hand ; 


judah's  lion.  137 

Ben-Melchor  looked  at  him  with  a  sort  of  shrinking 
civility,  and  said,  'I  bear  thee  no  ill-will,  child.' 

'But  won't  you  shake  hands  with  me,  sir  V 

Ben-Melchor  walked  away;  and  Mr,  Cohen  indignantly 
said,  '  If  this  were  Judaism,  I  should  blush  to  be  a  Jew.' 

*  Happily,  however,  it  is  not  Judaism,'  remarked 
Captain  Ryan,  'lior  anything  else  but  a  crank  of  man's 
brain,  suggested  by  the  Devil.  Ben-Melchor  is  not 
honest  in  his  profession  of  these  things  ;  I  know  him 
well.  I  often  meet  with  men  sincerely  in  the  wrong, 
holding  the  traditionary  law  as  sacred  as  that  of  Mo- 
ses, if  not  more  so.  With  them  I  can  usually  discuss 
the  points  on  which  we  differ  ;  but  this  fellow  is  un- 
manageable. I  took  this  method  to  drive  him  away 
in  a  civil  manner,  that  we  might  resume  the  conver- 
sation he  was  determined  to  interrupt.' 

They  did  resume  it ;  Mr.  Cohen  spoke  as  a  candid 
inquirer  into  things  connected  with  his  own  religion, 
to  which  he  had  paid  too  little  regard.  Captain  Ryan 
preached  the  gospel,  fearlessly  and  judiciously  ;  and 
whatever  his  father  might  feel,  Alick  was  conscious 
that  he  was  learning  a  lesson  of  incalculable  value. 

Before  they  reached  Smyrna,  Mr.  Cohen  had  gently 
informed  his  son  that  he  found  his  health  was  wholly 
unequal  to  any  stay  in  that  climate  ;  it  had  been  sen- 
sibly declining,  he  said,  for  some  time  ;  and  he  great- 
ly wished  to  return  home  ;  but  that  he  would  not  de- 
prive him  of  the  promised  gratification  of  passing 
some  time  in  the  East.  '  Dear  father  !'  said  Alick,  un- 
affectedly grieved,  '  you  must  not  go  home  alone. 
Let  me  attend  you,  and  indeed  1  shall  not  feel  the 
disappointment  so  much  as  I  should  feel,  seeing  you 
depart  unaccompanied  by  any  one  you  could  look  on 
with  confidence.' 

'  No,  my  generous  boy  ;  I  shall  be  better  when  I  set 
13 


138  JUDAH  S    LION. 

my  face  homewards,  and  see  yours  set  towards  the 
Holy  City;  I  wish  you  to  visit  it,  Alick;  and  to  kiss  for 
me,  the  very  stones  in  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  Peace 
be  upon  her !  I  have  spoken  to  this  excellent  man, 
and  he  is  perfectly  willing  to  admit  you  into  his  party, 
and  to  be  a  parent  and  a  guide  to  you  during  your 
tour.  I  am  also  sure  you  will  be  delighted  to  show 
every  attention  to  his  amiable  wife,  and  that  dear  lit- 
tle boy.     What  say  you  to  it,  Alick  V 

'  Oh  my  dear,  dear  father,  how  shall  I  thank  you  for 
all  this  ?  leaving  me  in  such  hands,  to  visit  such  pla- 
ces, and — and — ■'  then  with  one  of  his  sudden  bursts 
of  honesty,  he  said,  '  Father,  I  cannot  deceive  you;  if 
I  go  with  them  I  shall  certainly  have  a  great  deal  of 
talk  about  their  religion  :  I  shall  hear  of  Jesus  of  Na- 
zereth — and — I  shall  try  to  find  out  whether  or  not  it 
was  of  HIM  that  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets  did 
write.'  He  stood  half  dreading  the  reply,  but  thank- 
ful to  have  spoken  so  candidly. 

'  Go,  Alick,  and  inquire  into  whatever  is  presented 
to  your  mind  as  the  truth.  Find  it,  and  having  found 
itj  hold  it  fast.  You  are  further  advanced  in  the 
search  than  I  am  ;  your  earnestness,  boy,  has  shamed 
your  father  out  of  his  indifference.  God  grant  it  be 
not  too  late  !' 

Alick  burst  into  tears,  and  throwing  himself  on  his 
knees  implored  forgiveness  for  all  his  waywardness 
and  undutifulness,  and  a  blessing.  This  was  given 
with  fervent  affection  ;  and  Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  Your 
parting  gift  to  me  must  be  a  Bible  ;  for  between  Jew 
and  Gentile,  Talmudist  and  Papist,  I  have  plainly 
learnt  that  it  is  only  there  truth  can  be  found.' 

And  so,  in  tears  and  smiles,  in  hope  and  anxiety, 
with  hearts  full  of  love,  and  heads  busied  with  many 
thoughts,  they  anchored  in  the  port  of  Smyrna- 


CHAPTER    XI 


No  sooner  was  the  little  vessel  fairly  in  port,  than 
a  number  of  fine  looking  men  in  oriental  costume, 
with  long  robes,  turbans,  black  beards,  and  sparkling 
eyes,  boarded  her.  They  approached  with  courteous 
and  respectful  looks  the  spot  where  Alick  and  his  par- 
ty stood,  and  tendered  their  merchandize,  consisting 
of  attar  of  roses,  musk,  and  other  costly  perfumes. 
Alick's  heart  beat  high,  as  he  met  the  smiling  glance 
of  Captain  Ryan,  who  said,  '  They  are  all  Israelites ; 
speak  to  them,  Cohen.' 

'Oh,  what  language  shall  I  speak  in!'  cried  the 
youth,  to  whose  sight  the  apparition  of  the  poor  or- 
ange-seller in  the  cove  of  Cork  seemed  to  rise,  in  over- 
powering contrast  to  the  group  now  before  him ;  and 
ere  Captain  Ryan  could  answer,  he  had  loudly  uttered 
in  Hebrew,  the  watchword  of  the  church — "  Hear,  0 
Israel,  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a  Unity !" 

Every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  youth,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  gratified  surprise,  as  the  response  sounded 
from  every  tongue  ;  and  Captain  Ryan  thought  as  he 
gazed  on  him,  that  he  had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a 
specimen  of  a  race  who,  even  in  their  lowest  state  of 
depression,  still  retain  somewhat  of  the  innate  royalty 
that  will  yet  again  shine  out,  more  and  more,  as  the 


140  judah's  lion. 

progress  advances  of  the  restoration  to  that  pre-emi* 
nence  which  God  has  assigned  to  them,  "A  people 
terrible  from  their  beginning."  The  Jews  spoke  prin- 
cipally in  the  Spanish  tongue,  which  was  not  very  in- 
telligible to  Alick ;  and  hoping  soon  to  enjoy  free  com- 
munication with  them,  by  means  of  the  instruction 
that  Captain  Ryan  delighted  to  give  him,  he  content- 
ed himself  now  with  making  liberal  purchases.  Mean- 
while Mr.  Cohen,  who  was  an  accomplished  linguist, 
had  singled  out  one  of  his  countrymen,  a  fine  old  man, 
and  obtained  information  from  him  as  to  the  number, 
condition,  and  other  particulars  of  the  Jews  in  Smyr- 
na. He  also  purchased  largely  ;  and  Captain  Ryan, 
who  conversed  freely  with  the  whole  party,  did  not 
confine  his  dealing  to  w^ords.  The  poor  Jews,  who 
had  rarely  found  so  many  generous  customers  on 
board  a  vessel  of  that  description,  were  in  high  spir- 
its; and  one  of  them  declared  that  of  late  years,  the 
English  had  shown  so  kind  a  feeling  towards  them,  as 
to  lead  them  in  all  cases  of  distress  to  look  to  them 
as  their  appointed  helpers. 

'  The  Lord,  be  praised,'  added  Captain  Ryan,  as  he 
repeated  this  remark  in  English  ;  'for  if  we  be  found 
standing  in  such  a  position  towards  Israel,  a  blessing 
will,  and  must  attend  us.' 

As  they  landed,  Alick  -was  struck  by  the  picturesque 
appearance  of  the  flags  of  every  nation  flying  over  the 
different  consulates.  That  of  England  was  nearest, 
and  directly  opposite  the  pier  where  they  stepped 
ashore.  '  I  wish  it  was  the  royal  standard,'  thought 
he,  '  I  should  like  just  now  to  see  the  lion  in  it.  Here 
we  are  :  no  sea  now  separates  me  from  the  land  of  my 
fathers;  and  the  soil  I  shall  tread  was  ofttimes  pressed 
beneath   their  victorious  march,  when  subduing  the 


JUDAH^S  LION.  141 

nations  under  their  feet.'  His  form  seemed  to  dilate, 
and  his  stature  to  rise,  as  he  looked  round  him  j  and 
the  more  he  saw  of  his  oriental  brethren,  the  more 
elevated  did  he  feel.  The  diflerence  is,  in  fact,  more 
that  of  garb,  and  the  bearded  chin  so  appropriate  to 
the  costume.  '  I  shall  never  again  fancy  the  girl-faced 
fellows  at  home,'  continued  Alick,  as  he  looked  on 
those  at  hand  ;  '  certainly  men's  beards  were  not  given 
them  for  the  purpose  of  spending  half  an  hour  every 
day  in  scraping  them  off:  but  everything  gets  wrong 
as  one  goes  farther  away  from  the  holy  land,  and 
comes  right  as  we  approach  it.'  This  opinion  he  re- 
peated to  Captain  Ryan,  who  laughed,  and  said,  '  My 
chin  and  razor  have  often  parted  company  for  months 
together  when  in  the  East ;  for  which  I  have  incurred 
the  serious  displeasure  of  some  good  men,  who  seem 
to  consider  that  we  become  better  Christians  in  pro^ 
portion  as  we  recede  from  everything  Jewish.' 

'  But  that  is  not  your  doctrine  1' 

'  I  hope  not  indeed.  In  my  view,  Christianity  is 
not  only  not  opposed  to  genuine  Judaism,  but  it  is  not 
even  an  addition  to  it.  I  believe  it  to  be  contained  in 
Judaism,  as  is  the  fruit  in  the  blossom;  and  the  Jew 
who  fancies  that  he  must,  on  embracing  the  gospel, 
lay  aside  the  religion  of  Moses,  knows  little  of  Paul's 
meaning — "  Is  any  among  you  circumcized  \  let  him 
not  become  uncircumcized."  I  am  the  more  anxious 
to  impress  this  upon  you,  Cohen,  because  you  will  be 
likely  before  long  to  hear  some  things  very  galling 
to  your  Jewish  feelings,  from  an  excellent  friend  of 
mine,  who  goes  to  the  full  length  of  Gentilizing  wher- 
ever he  meets  with  a  convert.  He  is  travellinof 
now,  and  is  likely  to  take  Smyrna  in  his  way  before 
we  leave  it.' 

'  His  opinions  will  not  aflect  me,  at  any  rate,  Cap- 
13* 


14-2  judah's  lion, 

tain  Ryan,'  said  Alick,  rather  superciliously ;  he  then 
added,  '  I  must  look  out  for  the  synagogue,  in  order 
to  attend  worship  there  to-morrow.' 

'  I  will  escort  you  thither  :  you  will  be  much  pleas- 
ed with  the  devout  earnestness  of  your  eastern  breth- 
ren ;  what  you  have  seen  in  London  is  very  cold  com- 
pared with  it.' 

They  went ;  and  while  Alick  joined  with  soul-fell 
devotion  in  the  services,  Captain  Ryan  stood  more 
aloof,  but  evidently  in  prayer  all  the  time.  When 
they  had  ended,  a  number  of  Jews  surrounded  himj 
and  began  an  argument,  as  with  one  whom  they  had 
often  encountered  before.  The  numerous  texts 
brought  forward  by  both  parties  from  the  Hebrew 
scriptures  proved  to  Alick  that  the  Messiah  was  the 
subject  of  their  conference,  and  a  good  deal  of  warmth 
was  displayed  by  the  Jews,  while  Captain  Ryan,  pre- 
serving his  usual  good-humor,  had  an  answer  for  every 
one,  and  not  a  few  perplexing  questions  to  put  to 
each.  When  they  were  again  alone,  Alick  asked  him, 
with  a  sly  smile,  if  he  had  prevailed  on  any  of  his 
brethren  to  acknowledge  Jesus  of  Nazareth  as  their 
Messiah. 

'  No,  that  was  not  the  matter  before  us  :  in  fact  such 
admission  would  be  no  gain  to  anybody.' 

'You  surprise  me.  I  thought  it  was  the  very  turn- 
ing point  of  the  whole  matter.' 

'  Far  from  it :  I  have  met  with  Jews  who  would  ac- 
knowledge that  their  Messiah  might  possibly  have 
come  in  a  poor  and  humble  guise  ;  might  have  walked 
as  Christ  did  and  like  him  have  suffered,  and  may 
come  again  as  We  btdieve  he  will  do,  to  reign.  Yet 
were  they  not  a  whit  nearer  the  truth.  The  Messiah 
for  whom  you  look  is  but  a  man  :  a  great  prince,  a 
mighty  conqueror,  appointed  to  accomplish  a  tempo- 


judah's  lion.  143 

ral  deliverance,  and  then  to  reign  over  you  as  did  Da- 
vid and  your  ancient  kings.  This  will  not  suffice  :  the 
Bible  bids  you  expect  more,  much  more  :  it  bids  you 
look  for  the  appearance  of  Him  who  is  the  Lord  from 
heaven :  even  Jesus,  the  Savior,  which  delivereth  us 
from  the  wrath  to  come.' 

Alick  bit  his  lips :  something  in  the  service  in  which 
he  had  just  united  was  strong  in  his  mind:  he  said, 
'  It  is  very  revoking  to  a  Jew  to  hear  of  a  strange 
god.' 

'Not  a  whit  more  revolting  to  a  Jew  than  to  a 
Christian,'  answered  Captain  Ryan.  '  We  are  as  jea- 
lous as  you  can  be  in  guarding  from  all  perversion 
that  great  doctrine,  the  unity  of  the  Godhead.  Your 
own  scriptures  set  forth  most  clearly  what  we  hold, 
that  your  expected  Messiah,  the  Deliverer  and  Re- 
storer of  Israel  and  the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  is  a  Divine  Person.  Now,  here  is  the  hundred 
and  tenth  Psalm  :  read  it,  and  tell  me  to  whom  it 
refers.' 

Alick  glanced  over  it :  '  I  know  it  well,  and  it  clear- 
ly refers  to  the  Messiah.  Ben-Melchor  told  me  Israel 
was  meant ;  but  this  expression,  "  Thou  art  a  priest 
for  ever,  after  the  order  of  Melchizedeck,"  must  refer 
to  an  individual,  not  a  nation.' 

'  You  are  right.  Now  tell  me,  Cohen,  who  wrote 
this  Psalm  1 ' 

'  David.' 

'  Then  I  ask  you  a  question  which  your  fathers 
could  not  answer  ;  If  Messiah  be  David's  son,  in  what 
sense  is  he  his  Lord  '] ' 

'  I  cannot  tell  you,  for  I  am  unskilled  in  these  deep 
things.' 

'  My  dear  lad!  the  best  skilled  in  these  things  is 
he  who  receives  like  a  little  child  the  plain  word  of 


14*4'  judah's  lion. 

God  in  its  most  plain  and  simple  meaning.  The  more 
you  study  it,  the  more  you  will  be  struck  with  its  glo-* 
rious  simplicity  and  comprehensibility.' 

'  I  confess,  Captain  Ryan,  I  have  found  it  so  ;  but  on 
these  more  solemn  and  vitally  important  matters  it 
may  be  more  obscure.' 

'Just  the  contrary:  what  is  of  most  consequence 
for  ns  to  know  is  revealed  the  most  clearly.  If  you 
take  this  Psalm,  for  instance,  as  addressed  by  David 
in  spirit  to  one  who,  though  of  his  own  flesh  as  man, 
was  also  to  be  a  Divine  Person,  and  believe  that  he 
likewise  ofiered  up  a  sacrifice  of  abiding,  eternal  effi- 
cacy for  the  sins  of  this  world  ;  and  that  he  shall  come 
again  to  subdue  his  enemies  and  to  reign  as  a  king, 
not  only  over  Israel  but  over  the  whole  earth  ;  then 
you  will  see  the  beautiful  harmony  of  the  prediction  ; 
and  its  consistence  with  these  parts  of  the  oracles  of 
God.' 

'  Then  you  mean  to  say  that  the  same  strange  doc 
trine  is  elscAvhere  set  forth  1 ' 

'  Elsewhere  !  ay,  everywhere  :  do  you  think  we 
build  our  faith  and  hope  on  an  isolated  passage  1  One 
word,  indeed,  being  God's  word,  would  prove  a  suffi- 
cient security  for  the  whole  world  to  depend  on ;  but 
he  has  graciously  given  us  line  upon  line,  precept  upon 
precept,  to  the  same  blessed  eflect.' 

'  Will  you  point  out  some  of  those  passages  to 
me  \ ' 

'  Gladly  :  but  remember  that  only  One  can  teach 
you  effectually ;  and  lift  your  heart  for  divine  instruc- 
tion.' 

'  I  do.  Captain  Ryan.  I  really  desire  to  learn,  but 
what  you  have  said  has  startled  me  much.  I  thought 
if  I  once  could  bring  myself  to  recognize  in  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  the  Prince  Messiah,  so  longed  for  by  us,  that 


j0Dah's  lion.  14-5 

1  should  be  at  one  with  you  in  faith ;  but  I  now  find 
you  require  me  wholly  to  alter  my  view  of  him  to 
whom  I  have  ever  looked  as  the  hope  of  Israel — you 
want  me  to  confess  that  Messiah  Ben  David  is — God.' 
He  hesitated  and  dropped  his  voice  in  pronouncing 
the  last  words. 

'  That  is  the  point  I  was  arguing  with  your  people 
yonder  ;  and  I  found  them  very  determined  in  oppos- 
ing me  ;  but  we  have  one  appeal — to  the  law  and  to 
the  testimony.  I  set  before  you  what  I  believe  and 
know  to  be  the  truth,  and  I  tell  you  where  I  found 
that  truth,  that  you  may  yourself  seek  it  out.  I  have, 
however,  this  disadvantage  to  contend  with,  that 
whereas  I  have  the  inspired  narrative  of  the  fulfilment, 
to  guide  me  to  the  perfect  meaning  of  various  pro- 
phetic  scriptures,  you  reject  that  portion,  and  insist 
on  being  convinced  by  the  Old  Testament  alone  with- 
out any  reference  to  the  New.  Still  I  will  meet  you 
there.  My  task  is  to  show  that  in  the  Bible,  as  you 
hold  it,  we  have  evidence  of  a  Savior  being  promised 
who  is  a  partaker  in  the  Divine  Essence  ;  far  above 
the  highest  created  angel,  and  an  object  of  worship  to 
those  who  acknowledge  the  Most  High  God.' 

'  And  that,  I  think,  you  cannot  do.' 

'We  shall  see  ; — In  your  liturgy  you  have  this  pas- 
sage, I  think,  in  the  grace  after  meals  :  "  0  God,  thou 
art  our  Father,  King,  Strength,  Creator,  Redeemer, 
and  Sanctifier  :  the  Sanctifier  of  Jacob,  the  Pastor,  the 
Shepherd  of  Israel :  the  beneficent  King,  who  dealeth 
beneficently  with  all ;  for  he  hath  been,  is,  and  ever 
will  be,  daily  beneficent  towards  us."  Now  these 
words  include  everything;  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
three  of  them,  in  the  exact  order  in  which  they  stand, 
""Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier,"  set  forth  in  the 


14-6  judah's  lion. 

very  same  language  that  we  use,  the  three  persons 
whom  we  adore  in  the  Unity  of  the  Godhead  :  the 
Creating  Father,  the  Redeeming  Son,  the  Sanctifying 
Spirit.  I  think,  Cohen,  you  hold  strongly  that  to  wor- 
ship any  created  object  is  a  sin  1 ' 

'  A  gross  sin :  an  idolatrous  act,  hateful  to  God.' 

'  Turn  to  the  Psalm  we  were  looking  at.  "  In  the 
day  of  thy  power  shall  the  people  offer  thee  free-will 
offerings,  and  a  holy  worship."  I  don't  ask  you  to 
reply,  only  note  it  down,  to  study  at  your  leisure. 
Now  look  at  Zechariah,  the  twelfth  chapter :  who  is 
the  speaker  1  ' 

Alick  looked,  and  replied,  '  Certainly  God  is  the 
speaker :  of  none  other  could  it  be  said,  *'  The  Lord 
which  stretcheth  forth  the  heavens,  and  layeth  the 
foundations  of  the  earth,  and  formeth  the  spirit  of  man 
within  him."  ' 

'  Go  on,'  said  Captain  Ryan  ;  and  he  read  to  the 
ninth  verse,  and  exclaimed,  '  These  are  glorious  pro- 
mises indeed  !  these  are  the  days  of  the  Messiah,  the 
Son  of  David  our  King.'  He  then  resumed,  and  read, 
"And  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David,  and  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace  and 
of  supplications  :  and  they  shall  look  upon  me  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as 
one  mourneth  for  his  only  son  ;  and  shall  be  in  bitter- 
ness for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first- 
born." 

'  Well,  Cohen  "X '  said  Captain  Ryan,  as  Alick  made 
a  full  stop. 

'  This  is  astounding  ! '  exclaimed  the  young  man, 
'  there  must  be  an  error  somewhere.' 

'  Yes,  there  is  an  error  in  you,  even  want  of  faith. 
I  just  put  this  before  you :  I  have  not  picked  out  an 


jtjdah's  lion.  147 

isolated  passage,  but  made  you  read  the  whole  con- 
text, by  which  you  see  the   speaker  is  not  changed. 
"  The  Lord  which  stretcheth  forth  the  heavens,  and 
layeth  the  foundation  of  the   earth,  and  formeth  the 
spirit  of  man  within  him,"  is  declaring  the  triumphant 
period  of  Messiah's  coming,  to  restore  and  to  reign 
over  the  Jewish  people  ;  and  he   says,  "  They  shall 
look  on  me  whom  they  have  pierced."     I  will  not  now 
even  insist  on  the  obvious  reference  to  the  nation  who 
nailed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  the  cross  :  I  only  ask  you 
to  consider  the  bearing  of  the  passage  as  it  regards  the 
Messiah.     And  now  just  look  at  the  next  chapter,  the 
seventh  verse,  "  Awake,  O   sword,  against  my  Shep- 
herd, and  against  the  man  that  is  my  fellow,  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts :  smite  the   Shepherd,  and  the   sheep 
shall  be  scattered,  and  I  will  turn  mine  hand  upon  the 
little  ones."     If  you  go  on  to  the  end,  you  will  find 
the  subject  of  Israel's  punishment  and  subsequent  par- 
don and  restoration,  clearly  brought  forward.' 

'These  are  wonderful  things,  I  confess:  have  you 
more  to  show  mel ' 

_     'I  wish  to  ask  you  whether  you  would  apply  the 
title  of  Redeemer  of  Jacob  to  any  but  God '! ' 
'  No,  certainly  not.' 

'  What  then  does  Jacob  mean  by  that  expression, 
•<  God,  before  whom  my  fathers  Abraham  and  Isaac 
did  walk,  the  God  that  fed  me  all  my  life  long  unto 
this  day,  the  angel  which  redeemed  me  from  all  evil, 
bless  the  lads."  Gen-  xlviii.  15,  16.  Who  is  this  re- 
deeming angel  1 ' 

'  You  will  not  say  it  is  our  Messiah,  at  any  rate,' 
observed  Alick  ;  '  for  according  to  you  he  is  far  above 
all  created  angels.' 

'  True,  he  is  so  ;  but  in  his  character  of  one  ap- 
pointed and  sent  on  an  especial  work  by  his  Father, 


148  JtfDAH's   LION. 

I  do  allow,  in  this  instance,  the  application  of  the  term 
angel,  which  signifies  a  messenger,  to  Him.' 

*  Now  I  remember,'  said  Alick  eagerly,  '  little  as 
yet  I  know  of  the  Bible,  I  remember  a  passage  that 
explains  this.  When  Moses  led  my  fathers  up  out  of 
Egypt,  the  Holy  One  said  to  him  that  he  would  send 
an  angel  to  deliver  them,  whom  they  were  to  obey. 
This  proves  that  power  could  be  given  to  an  angel, 
for  a  special  purpose,  to  redeem  the  people  from  tem- 
porary evils.' 

'I  nm  delighted,  my  dear  boy,  to  hear  you  proving 
Scripture  by  Scripture.  Now  let  us  look  at  that  pas- 
sage :  you  will  find  it  in  the  twenty-third  chapter  of 
Exodus,  the  twentieth  and  following  verses.  Read  it 
attentively.' 

Alick  read  :  "  Behold,  I  send  an  Angel  before  thee 
to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring  thee  into  the 
place  which  1  have  prepared.  Beware  of  him  and 
obey  his  voice,  provoke  him  not  j  for  he  will  not  par- 
don your  transgressions:  for  my  Name  is  in  him. 
But  if  thou  shalt  indeed  obey  his  voice,  and  do  all  that 
I  speak  ;  then  I  will  be  an  enemy  unto  thine  enemies, 
and  an  adversary  unto  thine  adversaries."  This  is 
what  I  alluded  to;  and  it  is  very  plain.' 

'It  is  very  plain,  Cohen/  said  Captain  Ryan,  sol- 
emnly, 'and  I  beseech  you  to  ponder  it  deeply.  The 
glorious  King  who  will  yet  come  to  reign  over  you, 
and  us,  and  over  the  whole  earth,  the  Messiah,  the 
anointed  One,  He  it  was  who  first  brought  your  fathers 
into  the  good  land  which  we  hope  shortly  to  visit :  the 
land  given  by  covenant  to  Abraham  and  his  seed ;  and 
into  which  the  Angel — the  messenger  of  that  covenant, 
led  them.  I  now  ask  you,  do  you  know  the  meaning 
of  that  great  and  terrible  name  by  which  God  revealed 


judah's  lion.  H9 

himself  to  Moses  ;  which  your  people  avoid  pronoun- 
cing, and  which,  therefore,  I  never  pronounce  to  them. 
Do  you  know  the  high  import  of  this  name  V  and  he 
pointed  it  out  to  him  in  Hebrew. 

'  I  know  it  imports  greater  things  than  we  can  utter,* 
replied  Alick. 

'Is  it  not  expressive  of  self-existence,  of  eternity, 
of  unchangeableness, — in  short,  is  it  not  altogether 
incommunicable  1  would  it  not  be  blasphemy  most 
fearful  in  any  creature  to  assume  to  himself  that 
awful  name  1 ' 

*  Who  would,  who  could  dare  to  do  it!  We  reject 
your  Nazarene,  because  he  ventured  to  claim  it,  and 
we  are  shocked  at  you  for  supporting  that  claim.' 

'And  we  support  it,  Cohen,  as  much  on  the  strength 
of  this  very  passage  as  any  other.  This  Angel  is  one 
sent ;  that  is  clearly  expressed  ;  and  of  this  Angel  it 
is  declared  that  the  great,  the  awful,  the  incommuni- 
cable Name  is  in  him.  To  him  they  are  required  to 
yield  obedience,  not  because  God,  as  then  speaking 
to  them,  will  punish  disobedience  offered  to  his  ap- 
pointed vicegerent,  but  because  "  He  will  not  pardon 
your  transgressions."  The  power  of  forgiving  sins 
resides  in  him  ;  and  who  can  forgive  sins  but  God 
alone  1  Obedience  is  to  be  rendered  unto  him  by  the 
command  of  God,  who  elsewhere  has  repeatedly  said, 
that  he  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another  ;  and  the 
people  are  cautioned  not  to  provoke  him,  because, 
evidently,  the  power  to  punish  resides  independently 
in  him.  This  is  indeed  He  to  whom  the  Father  says, 
in  the  forty-fifth  Psalm,  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever :  a  sceptre  of  righteousness  is  the  scep- 
tre of  thy  kingdom."  This  is  he  of  whom  it  is  said 
in  the  second  Psalm,  "  Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry, 
and  ye  perish  from  the  right  way,  when  his  wrath  is 
U 


150  JUDAH's   LIONi 

kindled  but  a  little.  Blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their 
trust  in  him."  Yes,  and  "  Cursed  is  he  that  putteth 
his  trust  in  man,  and  maketh  flesh  his  arm."' 

Alick  listened  with  deep  attention  :  '  I  do  not  deny 
that  you  have  startled  me  very  much :  but  I  have  no 
doubt  our  learned  men  have  found  another  meaning 
for  these  expressions.' 

'  They  have  done  their  utmost  to  explain  them  away, 
of  course  5  and  hence  it  is,  that  though  Moses,  who 
testified  of  Christ,  is  read  in  the  synagogues  every 
Sabbath-day,  you  cannot  perceive  his  meaning — the 
veil  is  on  your  hearts.  In  the  day  when  you  shall  turn 
to  the  Lord,  rejecting  all  the  glosses  and  perversions 
of  men,  and  desirous  to  be  taught  of  Him  alone,  in 
that  day  the  veil  shall  be  taken  away,  and  you  shall 
clearly  see  what  is  now  hid  from  your  eyes.  All  that 
I  ask  of  you  is  an  unprejudiced  examination  of  your 
own  scriptures,  with  incessant  prayer  to  God  that  he 
would  illumine  and  direct  your  mind.  He  alone  can 
reveal  himself  to  you  ;  and  if  you  will  not  ask  for 
such  revelation,  surely  you  despise  the  gift,  and  must 
expect  to  be  left  in  darkness.  Secret  prayer  over  the 
word  of  God  can  do  nothing  but  good.  He  will  not 
lead  you  into  error,  nor  suffer  others  to  lead  you,  if 
you  humbly  commit  yourself  to  his  teaching  and  pro- 
tection.' 

'  That  is  my  great  comfort.  You,  or  others,  may 
bid  me  look  in  the  Bible  for  evidence  to  establish  a 
false  doctrine  ;  but  if  I  do  it  in  earnest  prayer  to  God, 
he  will  make  my  search  the  very  means  of  strength- 
ening me  against  what  is  wrong.' 

'  Exactly  so  ;  if  1  wanted  to  deceive  you,  the  last  thing 
I  should  do  would  be  to  send  you  to  the  fountain  of  truth, 
the  light  that  maketh  manifest.' 

*  1  shrank  from  your  doctrine  before,'  resumed  Alick, 


judah's  lion.  151 

'because  I  would  not  recognize  my  Messiah  in  a  crucified 
man  :  now,  because  I  dare  not  regard  him  as  the  Most 
High  God.     What  a  strange  mystery  is  this !' 

'AH  creation  is  a  mystery  :  the  finger  with  which  you 
now  turn  over  that  leaf  is  a  mystery  most  wonderftal,  most 
incomprehensible.  How  comes  it,  Cohen,  that  at  the 
very  moment  when  your  mind  conceives  a  purpose  of 
investigating  what  stands  on  the  next  page  of  the  book, 
at  that  very  moment  your  finger,  the  immediate  loss  of 
which  would  not  in  the  smallest  degree  lessen  or  affect 
your  intellectual  powers,  executes  the  purpose  of  your 
mind,  with  accuracy,  dispatch,  and  facility  not  to  be 
surpassed  1  Oh,  contemplate  for  a  moment  the  magnifi- 
cent mysteries  that  enwrap  the  lowest  of  his  visible  works, 
and  then  think  what  must  be  the  unfathomable  mysterious- 
ness  of  the  awful  Creator  himself?  Remember,  He  has 
revealed  to  us  in  that  book  what  we  are  to  believe ;  and 
be  content  to  credit  what  he  says,  to  receive  what  he  gives, 
and  to  wait  for  a  different  stage  of  being,  before  you  essay 
to  comprehend  what  must,  in  our  present  state,  be  utterly 
incomprehensible.' 

'But  now.  Captain  Ryan,  if  I  am  to  believe  without 
understanding,  why  should  I  reject  what  the  Papists 
believe  V 

'  How  can  you  ask  such  a  question  !  I  bid  you  yield 
undoubting  credence  to  all  that  God  declares  in  the  Bible; 
and  one  of  the  plainest,  most  unmistakeable  things  there 
revealed,  is  the  abhorrence  in  which  the  Lord  holds  idola- 
try. The  Bible,  my  dear  friend,  is  the  universal  key  ; 
with  it,  we  unlock  thp  fetters  that  bind  the  poor  Romanist, 
and  set  him  free  ;  with  it  we  unlock  the  casket  that  the 
Jew  holds  closed,  and  exhibit  to  him  the  treasure  that  he 
was  unconscious  of  possessing.' 

They  had  now  reached  their  temporary  abode,  and  found 
Mr.  Cohen  so  much  indisposed  as  to  require  all  Alick's 


152  JUDAH'S  Lia^^. 

attention.  He  expressed  an  anxious  wish  to  find  himself 
on  the  homeward  way,  and  talked  of  immediately  pro- 
ceeding by  a  vessel  bound  for  Jaffa,  whence  he  could 
readily  obtain  a  passage  to  Alexandria,  and  thence  to 
England  as  he  might  wish.  Captain  Ryan  saw  how  deeply 
Alick  felt  this  proposed  separation,  and  how  he  shrank 
from  leaving  his  parent  in  the  hands  of  strange  shipmen  j 
he  therefore  conferred  with  his  wife,  and  came  to  the 
decision  that  as  they  were  under  no  particular  necessity 
to  pursue  the  route  they  had  entered  on,  it  would  be  right 
to  follow  out  a  path  seemingly  marked  for  them  ;  and  the 
result  was  the  embarkation  of  the  whole  party  in  a  very 
small  but  commodious  vessel,  for  the  port  of  Jaffa.  Aiick's 
gratitude  knew  no  bounds ;  and  Charley  was  wonderfully 
delighted. 

'  Do  you  know,  Mr.  Alick,'  said  he,  '  that  Jaffa  is  Joppa, 
where  Simon  the  tanner  lived  by  the  sea-side,  and  Simon 
Peter  lodged  with  him  ;  and  there  came  a  great  sheet  down 
from  heaven,  and  a  voice  bade  him  slay  and  eat  all  the 
things  in  it  %  You  know,  that  was  a  vision  to  let  him  see 
he  was  not  to  despise  the  Gentiles,  but  to  go  to  Cornelius 
the  centurion,  when  the  messengers  came  to  say  an  angel 
had  bade  him  send  for  Peter.' 

'  Well,  now,  Charley,  you  must  show  me  that  story  in 
the  Bible  ;  for  I  confess  I  can't  make  anything  of  it,  in  the 
way  you  have  told  it  to  me.' 

'  Oh,  to  be  sure  I  will ;'  and  he  bustled  away  for  his 
Bible,  and  was  soon  on  Aiick's  knee,  reading  to  him  the 
tenth  chapter  of  the  Acts.  Alick  was  greatly  struck  with 
it.  '  This  was  a  remarkable  epoch,'  said  he,  half  uncon- 
sciously, '  for  here  was  the  first  acknowledgment  of  the 
Gentiles.  I  plainly  see,  everything  continued  Jewish  up 
to  this  time.' 

'  Oh  yes,'  answered  Charley,  '  and  if  you  read  the  next 


judah's  lion.  153 

chapter,  you  will  find  how  Peter  got  into  a  scrape  with 
the  apostles  in  Jerusalem  for  eating  with  Gentiles.' 

'  Indeed !  then  let  us  read  it  directly  :  I  should  like  to 
know  how  he  got  out  of  the  scrape.'  This  was  done ;  and 
Charley  said,  '  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  it  1' 

'  Wh}^  what  do  you  think  of  it,  Charley  1  I  should 
like  to  hear  your  opinion  of  the  matter.' 

•  I  think  it  is  very  beautiful.  You  see,  Peter  would  not 
have  gone  to  a  Gentile  for  all  the  messengers  that  the 
Centurion  could  have  sent,  because  it  was  contrary  to  the 
law  that  he  had:  but  when  God  himself  commanded  him, 
how  very  readily  he  did  go  !  The  Papists  make  Peter 
the  first  Pope,  but  you  see  he  behaved  quite  unlike  a  Pope 
— he  would  not  let  Cornelius  worship  him.' 

'  Stop,  Charley ;  does  God  make  laws  and  unmake 
them  1  are  his  commands  so  uncertain  1  He  forbade  a 
thing  to  be  done  by  the  Jews,  and  then  commanded  a  Jew 
to  do  it.     Is  it  sol' 

'  I  suppose  if  God  commands  it  to  be  dark  to-night,  that 
is  no  reason  he  should  not  command  it  to  be  light  in  the 
morning,  Mr.  Alick,'  said  the  child,  setting  his  broad  eyes 
upon  him,  in  wonder  at  his  bringing  the  charge  of  incon- 
sistency against  the  Lord.  '  And  I  suppose  if  the  sun's 
light  came  at  first  only  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  that 
is  no  reason  it  should  not  shine  into  the  valleys  by-and-bye, 
Mr.  Alick.' 

The  answer  was  conclusive  ;  it  opened  a  new  scene  to 
Alick's  view ;  and  made  him  almost  enter  into  the  thank- 
ful feelings  with  which  the  Jewish  apostles  said,  "  Then 
hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles  granted  repentance  unto 
life."  Alick  always  felt,  when  with  Charley,  like  one 
who  was  being  quietly  towed  into  a  pleasant  haven  :  but 
when  with  others  he  seemed  painfully  toiling  against  a 
rough  current.  He  now  resolved  to  enjoy  a  little  of  his 
favorite  friend's  chat,  and  closing  the  book  went  on. 
U* 


154  jcdah's  lion, 

'  I  like  your  papa  very  much  indeed,  Charley.' 

'  So  you  ought,  for  he  is  fonder  of  you  than  of  anybody/ 

*  What  makes  you  think  soV 

'  Oh,  everything  :  he  always  calls  you,  '^  That  dear  lad," 
or  "  our  beloved  Alick,"  or  "  that  noble  young  Jew,"  or 
some  such  thing :  and  at  prayers  how  he  does  pray  for 
you  !    And  when  Ben-Melchor  set  the  Jews  upon  him  so, 

about  you' ,  here  Charley  stopped,  for  he  had  let  out 

a  secret. 

'  Go  on ;  when  they  attacked  him  about  me,  what  did 
he  do  V 

'  I  did  not  know  you  knew  it,'  said  Charley  with  glee, 
'  and  he  did  not  want  you  to  know  it.  They  really 
frightened  us,  they  were  so  cross.  I  could  not  tell  what 
they  said,  you  know  ;  but  both  mamma  and  I  were  in  a 
fright.  When  they  were  gone  we  cried ;  and  papa  said 
he  thought  we  loved  you  better  than  to  mind  facing  such 
a  breeze  for  your  sake.' 

'  I  wonder  they  did  not  go  to  my  father,'  said  Alick. 
In  fact,  they  had  been  to  him ;  and  the  result  was  an 
admission  on  their  side,  that  if  it  was  in  the  Bible  his  son 
was  searching,  with  unprejudiced  mind,  for  the  truth,  he 
was  in  a  safe  way.  Ben-Melchor  had  represented  the 
Ryans  as  worshippers  of  images ;  and  Mr.  Cohen  as  a 
man  of  no  religion  whatever,  allowing  his  son  to  be  led 
astray  in  the  prospect  of  worldly  advantages.  On  these 
points  the  Jews  were  quickly  set  right ;  and  in  resentment 
at  the  impositions  of  their  unworthy  brother,  they  refused 
to  interfere  any  farther. 

Alick  resumed  the  discourse  with  Charles.  '  Is  there 
any  place  besides  Joppa  that  you  are  anxious  to  see  V 

'Oh,  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem!'  cried  the  child,  clapping 
his  hands.'  Won't  we  see  Jerusalem  itself?  You  can't 
think  how  glad  I  am  that  we  are  going  this  road ;  for  you 
see,  it  was  very  uncertain  if  we  could  get  to  Jerusalem  at 


judah's  lion.  J  55 

all  the  other  way.    Now,  we  shall  go  right  up,  up,  till  we 
get  there.' 

'  Is  it  up-hill  all  the  way,  do  you  think  1' 

'  No,  but  the  Bible  always  talks  of  going  up  to  Jerusalem, 
you  know.  It's  the  greatest  place  in  the  whole  world  ; 
and  it's  a  great  honor  to  go  to  it ;  so  we  say  up,  we  shall 
go  up,  up  to  Jerusalem,'  and  again  he  clapped  his  hands, 
and  kicked  out  his  little  feet  as  he  sat. 

'  But  I  have  a  greater  portion  in  Jerusalem  than  you, 
Charley.' 

'I  know  you  have  :  it  belongs  to  you  ;  but  we  Gentiles 
may  go  up  and  worship  there,  you  know.  The  poor  Jews, 
Mr.  Alick,  are  badly  off  in  their  own  city  ;  papa  says  it 
will  grieve  our  hearts  to  see  how  they  are  oppressed  :  but 
never  mind  ;  their  King  will  soon  come,  and  restore  the 
kingdom  to  Israel.' 

'  But  now,  Charley,  if  this  King  should,  after  all,  not  be 
the  one  you  expect,  what  will  become  of  you  1'  Charley 
stared  at  him,  and  then  asked,  '  Do  you  mean,  what  would 
become  of  me  if  Jesus  Christ  was  not  King  of  the  Jews 
and  King  of  heaven  and  earth  1' 

'  Yes.' 

'  If  so,  I  must  be  lost  entirely  ;  I  should  go  to  hell ;  be- 
cause I  should  have  no  Savior.  But  don't  talk  in  that 
way,  Mr.  Alick.  I  know  very  well  he  is  the  King  ;  he  is 
the  Lord ;  he  will  save  me,  a  poor  little  sinful  child,  and 
he  will  save  you,  if  you  believe  in  him.' 

But  Alick  felt  as  if  he  was  farther  off"  from  believing 
than  ever  :  he  longed  to  be  ashore  again,  and  to  plunge 
into  the  scenes  that  promised  so  greatly  to  excite  him. 
His  father's  state  of  health  depressed  his  spirits ;  and  on 
the  whole  he  had  lost  so  much  of  the  buoyancy  that  once 
distinguished  him,  as  to  make  Captain  Ryan  anxious  too 
for  his  arrival  in  a  more  stirring  place.  They  made  the 
passage  as  favorably  as  they  could  wish ;  and  with  a  very 


156  judah's  lion. 

great  accession  of  scriptural  knowledge  as  far  as  the 
Hebrew  Bible  went,  and  not  a  little  improvement  in  the 
languages  most  requisite  to  be  studied  preparatory  to  a 
tour  in  those  deeply  interesting  countries,  A  lick  approach- 
ed the  shores  of  Palestine. 

This  interval,  so  unexpectedly  occurring,  had  been  of 
immense  use  to  him :  he  was  aware  of  it,  and  secretly 
thankful.  Towards  the  Ryans  his  regard  daily  increased ; 
and  the  tender  care  bestowed  on  his  sick  father  doubly 
endeared  them.  '  I  am  sure,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  '  I  am  doing 
right,  Alick,  in  leaving  you  with  such  friends,  if  I  must 
leave  you  ;  but  to  say  truth,  the  breezes  that  have  reached 
me  from  that  glorious  land  seem  to  have  infused  new  life 
into  me  already  ;  and  who  knows  but  I  too  may  go  up  to 
Jerusalem  1' 


CHAPTER    XII 


'  Yonder  they  rise,  the  mountain  heights  of  Judea,'  said 
Captain  Ryan,  shortly  after  their  landing,  while  Alick 
strained  his  eyes  to  trace  the  blue  outline  distinctly  mark- 
ed on  the  horizon.  '  I  could  tell  of  some  who,  by  toil- 
some efforts,  through  privations  that  you  can  scarcely 
imagine  the  existence  of,  and  amid  dangers  now  happily 
at  an  end,  just  reached  this  spot,  and  having  gazed  on 
these  hills,  lay  down  to  die.  The  privilege  of  entering 
within  the  holy  city  was  denied  them  ;  but  to  lay  their 
bones  so  near  it  was  counted  a  blessing  well  worth  the 
expenditure  of  their  little  remaining  strength,  and  of  the 
hoard  accumulated  during  many  years'  struggle  against 
adversity,  persecution,  and  all  the  storms  that  beat  upon 
their  heads  during  the  bitterest  season  of  Israel's  universal 
affliction.' 

Alick  made  no  reply :  his  eyes  were  rivetted  on  the 
mountain-tops ;  and  Captain  Ryan,  wishing  to  leave  him 
to  the  unrestrained  indulgence  of  feelings  which  he  well 
understood,  took  advantage  of  the  appearance  of  an  Arab 
in  the  contrary  direction,  to  make,  as  he  said,  some  in- 
quiries concerning  the  army  of  Ibrahim  Pasha,  lately 
assembled  in  that  neighborhood  j  and  proceeded  to  accost 
the  Ishmaelite. 

Thus  left  alone,  Alick  at  once  threw  himself  on  a  bank, 


158  jttdah's  lion. 

with  head  propped  on  his  hand,  and  abandoned  himself  to 
the  emotion  that  he  had  found  it  scarcely  possible  so  long 
to  suppress.  Sighs,  increasing  to  sobs,  burst  from  his 
bosom,  and  tears  flowed  unrestrained,  while,  with  a  mixture 
of  pride,  grief,  shame,  and  indignation,  the  master-passion 
of  his  soul  so  lately  roused  into  existence,  but  already 
absorbing  everything  else — the  love  of  his  country,  beat 
in  every  vein.  After  a  long  interval,  it  found  vent  in 
words  that  he  would  not  have  breathed  to  mortal  ear. 

'  Land  of  my  fathers,  the  inheritance  of  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  and  of  their  seed  for  ever — Our  own  land,  our 
pleasant  land,  the  glory  of  all  lands,  why,  why  should  this 
be  %  Did  not  the  Lord  our  God  give  us  the  land,  by  a 
covenant  confirmed  with  an  oath,  and  a  promise  to  cast 
out  the  nations  and  to  plant  us  in  it,  and  to  establish  ua 
there  for  ever ;  and  must  the  rightful  possessors  of  those 
blessed  hills  look  upon  them  from  a  distant  spot,  and 
count  it  a  privilege  to  die  so  near  Jerusalem,  while  the 
soil  itself  is  trampled  down  by  the  feet  of  its  enemies,  and 
Zion  is  profaned  by  the  presence  of  false  gods,  abominable 
idols,  and  whatsoever  the  Lord  hateth  1  Judah  has  couched 
indeed,  he  has  lain  down,  but  is  it  as  a  lion  1  and  ohj  who 
shall  rouse  him  up  !  At  this  very  moment  my  people 
have  power,  if  but  the  Lord  would  raise  a  Joshua  to  lead 
them  on — power  to  march  upon  the  hosts  of  unbelieving 
usurpers,  and  expel  them  from  the  holy  land.  I  am  sure 
of  it :  in  numbers  we  are  formidable  ;  in  our  wealth  we 
possess  the  means  of  forming  mighty  alliances ;  in  intellect, 
in  enterprise,  in  perseverance  are  we  behind-hand  with 
any  people  under  heaven  1  It  is  because  her  sons  are 
alien  in  heart  that  Jerusalem  is  trodden  down,  and  Judea 
a  desolation  !  Every  mongrel  tribe  of  Gentile  race  may 
establish  a  footing  there  ;  but  they  to  whom  the  land 
wholly  belongs  may  plant  no  foot  except  by  degrading 
sufferance :  every  flaunting  flag  may  wave  in  the  breezes 


JUDAH^S    LION.  159 

of  Judea,  and  bespeak  a  political  existence  connected  with 
the  country,  except  the  lion. standard  of  Judah.  Her  own 
masters  alone  are  scorned,  her  own  leaders  alone  are  pro- 
scribed, her  own  sons  alone  are  contumaciously  banished 
from  that  country,  my  country,  the  country  which  God 
gave  to  me,  and  which  man  shall  not  much  longer  with- 
hold.' He  sprang  to  his  feet ;  and  almost  unconsciously 
shaking  his  clenched  fist  towards  the  spot  from  which  his 
eyes  had  never  been  withdrawn,  he  repeated  with  fiery 
determination,  '  The  land  is  ours  ;  and  restore  it  you  shall, 
ye  motley  herd  of  Turks,  Christians,  and  nondescript 
vagabonds,  who  dare  to  defile  it  by  your  presence  !' 

His  extended  arm  was  suddenly  grasped  from  behind ; 
and  looking  round  he  beheld  a  stranger,  habited  in  one  of 
the  varieties  of  costume  that  he  had  seen  in  the  bazaar  of 
Jaffa  the  preceding  evening,  when,  after  debarkation, 
Captain  Ryan  had  taken  him  for  a  hasty  stroll  round  the 
place.  A  robe,  rather  short,  and  gathered  close  to  the 
body  by  a  silken  sash,  trowsers  not  so  loose  as  the  gener- 
ality of  those  he  had  seen,  and  a  high  flat  red  cap,  with  a 
single  narrow  roll  of  purple  muslin  passed  round  the  lower 
edge,  formed  the  dress ;  but  in  the  countenance,  Alick 
could  not  help  tracing  a  strong  resemblance  to  his  own ; 
allowing  for  some  ten  or  twelve  years  difference,  and  the 
addition  of  a  short,  close-curled  beard,  and  a  more  lofty 
arch  of  the  black  eyebrow  than  he  had  been  accustomed 
to  see  even  among  his  own  race.  The  glance  that  met 
his  was  not  friendly  :  it  bespoke  a  degree  of  menace,  and 
yet  more  of  contempt ;  and  while  the  left  hand  of  the  in- 
truder still  grasped  his  arm,  and  the  other  hand  was  held 
back  from  view,  Alick's  mind  underwent  an  unpleasant 
transition,  from  the  warlike  emotion  just  excited,  to  the 
consciousness  that  he  was  wholly  unarmed,  and  in  the 
power  of  a  very  questionable  companion.  However,  he 
spoke  at  once,  and  in  a  tone  by  no  means  indicative  of 


160  judah's  lion. 

alarm,  and  inquired  in  Italian  what  the  stranger  wanted 
with  him.  A  shake  of  the  head  conveyed  the  rejection 
of  this  language  ;  he  then  tried  the  same  query  in  imper- 
fect Arabic  ;  to  wliich  the  stranger  responded,  by  asking 
him  what  he  did  there. 

This  was  not  so  easily  to  be  told  by  a  smattering  begin- 
ner in  the  language  :  he,  therefore,  took  the  shortest  phrase 
he  could  master,  and  pointing  again  to  the  mountain  he 
said,  '  It  is  my  country.' 

'  You  are  a  Frank,'  said  the  other,  glancing  scornfully 
at  his  dress. 

'I  am  a  Jew,'  replied  Alick,  proudly.  His  arm  was 
immediately  liberated,  but  the  gaze  by  no  means  relaxed, 
while  in  choice  Hebrew  the  stranger  inquired,  'Wherefore 
did  you  lift  your  hand  in  wrath  towards  the  holy  hill  V 

'  I  lifted  my  hand,'  replied  Alick,  while  his  eyes  sparkled 
with  joy,  'against  the  unholy  people  who  pollute  by  their 
presence  the  mountains  of  the  Lord.' 

'  And  you  are  not  afraid  to  avow  yourself,  in  such  a 
place  and  in  such  company!'  remarked  the  stranger,  in 
excellent  English.  '  When  such  a  heart  is  put  into  our 
people  a  little  more  extensively,  Cohen,  we  shall  soon  re- 
possess our  land,  and  rejoice  together  upon  the  mountains 
of  Israel.  I  see  you  are  surprised,  and  no  marvel :  you 
do  not  recollect  me  ;  for  you  were  a  mere  child  when  I 
visited  your  father's  house.  I  am  now  a  resident  in  this 
country,  and  to-day  had  the  unexpected  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing my  old  friend  in  the  narrow  streets  of  Jaffa.  He  sent 
me  in  quest  of  you,  and  I  found  you  engaged  as  he  led  me 
to  expect.  I  heard  your  indignant  exclamation,  and  put 
your  courage  to  the  test  which  it  stood  so  well.  We  are 
co-religionists  ;  and  co-heirs  of  that  glorious  land,  which 
is  at  this  moment  ours  of  right;  and  which  by  might  shall 
yet  be  ours  in  the  face  of  the  whole  world,  and  to  their 
confusion  if  they  dare  to  resist  us.' 


JUDAll's    LION.  16! 

The  lone,  the  look,  the  gesture  that  accompanied 
these  proud  words  bespoke  an  enthusiasm  so  akin  to 
that  of  young  Cohen,  that  his  very  soul  seemed  to 
expand  in  an  atmosphere  more  congenial  than  any  he 
had  ever  yet  breathed  in  :  he  caught  and  grasped  the 
outstretched  hand  of  his  energetic  companion,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  Those  hills,  those  everlasting  hills,  the  land- 
twarks  of  our  beauteous  Canaan  !  shall  it  indeed  be  ours 
to  fight  our  way  within  the  barrier,  and  inch  by  inch  to 
win  all  back  from  the  accursed  enemies  of  our  God  ■? 
Have  you  a  band,  a  little  band,  prepared  for  the  enter, 
prise  1  Oh  with  what  joy  shall  I  enrol  myself  among 
that  chosen  few  5  and  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  be 
strong  to  do  exploits  !' 

'  Gideon's  three  hundred  Avould.  suffice,'  replied  his 
new  friend  :  '  or  Jonathan  with  his  armor-bearer 
alone  :  but  we  must  wait,  alas  !  we  must  await  ihe  token 
from  Him  who  of  old  bade  Moses  "  speak  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  that  they  go  forward."  ' 

'  You  said  just  now  that  it  should  be  yours  by  might,' 
remarked  Alick  almost  reproachfully. 

'  Aye,  but  not  by  man's  might,  until  the  Lord  vouch- 
safes once  more  to  be  our  Banner.  That  day  approach- 
es fast ;  bone  shall  come  to  his  bone,  scattered  and 
dry  as  the  bones  now  are  ;  and  when  the  Breath 
breathes  into  the  mass,  then  shall  Judah  and  Ephraim 
together  arise,  an  exceeding  great  army,  prepared  to 
march, — march  to  yonder  glorious  hills,  over  this 
soil  (and  he  stamped  his  foot  on  it)  and  over  every 
plain  that  grovels  at  the  feet  of  our  own  mountain 
iand.  The  might,  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  shall 
perform  this.' 

*  You  seem  very  fond  of  the  Bible,'  said  Alick. 

■'Am  I  not  a  Jevvl  Are  not  the  Holy  Books  at 
15 


162  jtjdah's  lion. 

once  our  personal  and  political  history,  our  statistics 
and  our  charter  V 

Every  word  spoken  by  this  impetuous  man,  whose 
countenance  expressed  all  the  fire  and  buoyancy  of 
youth,  combined  with  the  decision  of  ripened  man- 
hood, increased  Alick's  delight  in  him.  After  a  short 
pause,  the  stranger  resumed  ;  and  while  he  spoke  his 
eyes  softened  into  the  deepest  sadness  of  heart-strucl^ 
humility — 'Come,  Cohen,  right  well  we  know  why  it 
is  that  you  and  I  stand  here  gazing  with  wistful  long- 
ings on  a  land  from  which  we  are  thrust  out,  and 
Avhich  is  yet  sealed  against  our  return  :  and  knowing 
the  evil,  we  know  the  remedy.  Yonder  lies  Jerusa- 
lem, our  holy  and  beautiful  city  ;  let  us  now  stand  and 
spread  forth  our  hands  towards  it  and  pray.  It  may  be 
that  He,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  will  hear  from  his 
dwelling-place,  and  hearing,  will  forgive.' 

They  stood  with  outstretched  arms  and  eyes  fixed 
on  the  heaven  above  where  they  supposed  the  belov 
ed  city  to  be,  and  the  elder  uttered  one  of  the  sublime 
prayers  of  the  Jewish  liturgy,  comprising  a  deep  con- 
fession of  sin,  an  acknowledgment  that  for  the  iniqui- 
ties of  the  people  they  were  driven  away,  and  kept  in 
perpetual  affliction  :  and  most  passionate  entreaty  for 
pardon,  and  restoration  to  their  own  land.  Alick  had 
often  unthinkingly  run  through  that  very  supplication 
in  Duke's  Place  ;  every  word  was  familiar  to  him  ;  but 
what  new  and  thrilling  emotion  did  every  word  excite 
in  his  breast,  now  that  the  very  scene  was  before  his 
eyes,  and  the  inmost  longings  of  his  spirit  had  some- 
thing so  tangible  to  fix  on  !  They  prayed  standing  and 
covered,  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  a  third  person, 
who  lowly  kneeling  and  bare-headed  echoed  the  pray- 
er from  his  very  heart.  It  was  Captain  Ryan,  who  bad 
come  up  behind  a   natural  hedge  of  the  prickly  pear, 


JTTD All's    I-ION.  163 

expectiiior  to  find  Alick  alone,  as  he  left  him  ;  and  who 
had  heard  tlie  invitation  given,  which  he  rightly  suppos- 
ed would  not  have  been  extended  to  a  Gentile  like  him- 
self: he  therefore  remained  out  of  sight,  but  closely 
united  in  spirit  with  the  praying  Jews  :  and  as  they 
concluded,  he  softly  stole  away,  too  honourable  to 
overhear  their  private  discourse. 

Da  Costa,  as  the  stranger  Jew  instructed  Alick  to 
call  him,  reconducted  his  companion  to  JafTa,  where 
Mr.  Cohen  very  warmly  expressed  his  pleasure  on  see- 
ing them  together,  and  inquired  for  Captain  Ryan. 
Alick  slightly  colored  on  recollecting  the  unceremo- 
nious way  in  which  he  had  left  the  place  where  his 
Irish  friend  was  likely  again  to  seek  him,  and  men- 
tioned the  circumstance  ;  but  the  Captain's  appearance 
soon  set  him  at  ease  on  that  ground,  though  a  degree 
of  shyness  that  he  felt  stealing  more  and  m.ore  over 
him  in  reference  to  those  Christian  guides  who  had 
laid  him  under  obligations  so  deep,  was  really  painful 
to  his  spirit.  Da  Costa  soon  became  extremely  socia- 
ble with  a  person  whose  manners  not  a  little  resem- 
bled his  own,  in  point  of  frankness,  energy  and  vivaci- 
ty ;  they  conversed  a  good  deal  on  general  and  local 
subjects  ;  and  were  mutually  pleased  in  proportion  as 
they  discovered  more  of  each  other's  tastes  and  pur- 
suits. '  I  like  your  countrymen.  Captain  Ryan,'  said 
Da  Costa  :  '  they  are  far  more  accessible  than  the  Eng- 
lish ;  and  besides,  there  seems  to  be  among  you  a 
strong  tinge  of  Jewish  blood.  Have  you  ever  heard 
of  that  before  V 

'  Undoubtedly  :  the  opinion  is  prevalent  that  we, 
the  native  race  of  Ireland,  owe  our  origin,  at  least  in 
part,  to  a  tribe  of  Israelites  who,  after  being  repulsed 
in  many  other  quarters,  found  a  welcome  and  a  home 
in  the  green  Isle,  where  they  established  themselves, 


164>  JUDAn's    LION. 

and  imparted,  in  process  of  time,  the  privileges  of  He- 
brew descent  to  a  large  portion  of  the  Ishinders.' 

'  So  I  have  heard,  sir;  and  I  for  one  feel  pleasure  in 
believing  it  to  be  so.  But  now,  supposing  it  proved, 
and  that  you  are  one  of  the  stock  so  far  Hebraized^ 
what  part  do  you  expect  to  bear  in  the  great  event  of 
our  coming  restoration'?'^  This  was  asked  smilingly, 
and  even  playfully,  and  Captain  Kyan  smiled  too;  but 
before  he  could  answer,  Charley,  whose  face  had  crim- 
soned while  he  listened  to  the  question,  ran  up  to  Da 
Costa,  and  seizing  his  robe,  said,  '  We  shall  be  one  of 
the  ten  nations  that  will  take  hold  of  your  skirt,  and 
say.  We  will  go  with  you  ;  for  we  have  seen  that 
God  is  with  you  of  a  truth/ 

'  My  fine  little  fellow  !'  exclaimed  Da  Costa,  lifting- 
him  high  in  his  arms,  '  where  did  you  learn  that  V 

'  Out  of  the  book  of  Zechariah,  sir :  Mr.  Alick  knows 
all  about  it/ 

'  Zechariah  prophesies  great  things  for  us,'  remark- 
ed the  other,  addressino-  Mr.  Cohen. 

'Yes,'  replied  Charley,  'he  says  there  shall  be  a 
fountain  opened  in  Jerusalem  for  sin  and  uncleanness  ; 
and  he  says  you  shall  look  on  Him  whom  you  have 
pierced,  and  mourn  for  him.' 

'And  whom  did  we  pierce,  my  little  commentator  V 

'  Jesus  Christ :  and  when  you  see  that  He  is  the 
Messiah,  and  that  He  is  the  Lord,  then  you  will  be 
sorry  for  what  you  did  unknowingly,  you  know.' 

'  Yes,'  answered  the  other  smiling,  '  when  we  see  it 
we  shall  be  very  sorry,  I  am  sure.'  Then  setting  the 
child  down  and  stroking  his  head  kindly,  he  added, 
'Always  speak  out,  my  boy:  honesty  is  a  rare  vir- 
tue.' 

'  Oh,  then  you  do  believe  it,  do  you  X  you  love  the 


judah's  lton.  165 

Lord  Jesus,  do  you  V    cried  Charley  with  great  de- 
light. 

'  No,  that  does  not  follow :  but  you  may  be  a  very 
good  Christian,  and  I  a  very  good  Jew,  and  we  may 
remain  excellent  friends  all  the  while.' 

'  No,  we  can't,'  replied  the  boy  quickly  :  '  for  if  one 
of  us  were  to  die,  there  would  be  an  end  of  our  friend- 
ship ;  and  one  of  us  may  die  directly  ;  and  then 
what's  the  good  of  being  such  friends  as  that,  Mr. 
Jew  V 

Da  Costa  looked  surprised,  and  a  shade  of  displeas- 
ure passed  over  his  countenance,  while  he  said  to  Cap- 
tain Ryan,  still,  however,  affectionately  caressing  the 
child,  'Do  you  think  this  a  good  system  of  educa- 
tion, Captain  ?  I  confess  I  don't  like  the  prosely- 
tizing mania  :  we  never  seek  to  convert  you,  and 
why  you  should  be  so  bent  on  our  apostasy  I  can- 
not tell.' 

'  Before  I  answer  you,  pray  tell  me,  have  you  read 
the  New  Testament  V 

'  Aye  ;  through  and  through  ;  and  with  the  greatest 
attention.' 

'  And  what  impression  did  it  leave  upon  your  mind  V 

'Just  so  much  impression  as  the  shadow  of  yon 
floating  cloud  has  left  on  the  objects  over  which  it 
passed.  I  was  a  Jew  before  I  read  it ;  and  having 
read  I  was  as  much  a  Jew  as  ever.' 

'You  would  havu  been  twice  as  much  a  Jew  had 
you  received  the  testimony  which  it  bears  to  the  King 
of  the  Jews.  But  answer  me  honestly  to  this,  did  you, 
before  investigating  that  book,  or  during  the  inves- 
tigation, pray  for  divine  light  to  guide  you  into  all 
truth  1' 

'No  ;  for  having  all  truth  in  my  possession,  while 
I.  hold  the  law  and  the  prophets,  I  should  be  belying 
15* 


166  JtTDAH's    LION.- 

my  faith,  and   mocking  tlie  Most  High,  if  I  asked  to 
be  guided  into  what  I  know  does  not  exist.' 

'  Well,  then,  did  you  pray  to  be  kept   from  error  V 

'  No,  I  do  not  remember  that  I  did  :  I  had  one  touch- 
stone, "  Hear,  O  Israel,"  and  whatever  militates 
against  the  unity  of  the  God  of  Israel  is  by  that  touch- 
stone at  once  exposed  and  shivered  to  atoms.'  He 
spoke  this  with  an  expression  of  mingled  indignation 
and  contempt. 

'1  grant  it :  but  the  great  mystery  that  you  reject 
courts  a  contact  with  that  touchstone.  You  do  not 
try  it  fairly,  because  you  do  not  ask  of  the  Lord  to 
show  you  what,  if  it  be  true,  is,  must  be,  a  mystery 
to  human  reason,  and  apprehended  only  by  faith  j 
which  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  given  for  man's  justifi- 
cation, as  your  own  Scriptures  declare  j  for  Moses 
says,  "  Abraham  believed  God,  and  He  counted  it 
unto  him  for  righteousness,"  and  Habakkuk  says, 
"  The  just  shall  live  by  his  faith."  Isaiah  asks, 
"  Who  hath  believed  our  report,  and  to  whom  is  the 
arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  V  I  could  cite  many  more 
passages  to  the  same  effect  ;  but  I  will  only  direct 
your  attention  to  one,  and  that  an  awful  one : — you 
will  find  it  in  the  sixth  chapter  of  Isaiah.' 

'  What  is  it  r  asked  Mr.  Cohen. 

'  It  is  this,'  answered  Captain  Ryan  ;  and  he  read 
the  passage,  "  Go,  and  tell  this  people,  Hear  ye  in- 
deed, but  understand  not  ;  and  see  ye  indeed,  but 
perceive  not :  make  the  heart  of  this  people  fat,  and 
make  their  ears  heavy,  and  shut  their  eyes  ;  lest  they 
see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears,  and 
understand  with  their  heart,  and  convert,  and  be 
healed.' 

'  And  you  apply  this  to  us,  because  we  reject  cer- 


JUDAIl's  LION.  167 

tain  additions  made  by  man  to  the  word  of  God  1'  said 
Da  Costa. 

'  It  must  apply  to  you,  for  Isaiah  wrote  of  no  other 
people  ;  and  according  to  your  own  declaration  you 
receive  the  whole  of  the  Old  Testament  without  a 
cavil.  It  is  against  a  farther  revelation  of  God,  con- 
tinually referred  to  in  those  Scriptures,  that  you  close 
your  eyes,  ears,  heart ;  and  you  will  not  even  put  up 
a  secret  silent  prayer,  to  have  the  veil  taken  away 
which  we  assert  is  upon  your  heart ;  and  if  it  be  not 
there,  surely  such  prayer  can  do  no  harm.  The  Lord 
will  not  answer  a  petition  for  more  light  by  deepen- 
ing your  present  darkness.' 

'  That  is  the  point ;  we  have  light  in  abundance  5 
and  to  ask  for  more  would  be  to  ask  a  vain  thing.' 

'  Your  fathers  thought  the  same.  Do  you  remem- 
ber a  passage  in  the  Gospel,  where  Jesus  cured  a 
blind  man,  and  so  provoked  the  boastful  rebukes  of 
the  Pharisees,  who  scoffingly  asked  him,  "  Are  we 
blind  also  V  Jesus  answered  them,  "  If  ye  were 
blind,  ye  should  have  no  sin  ;  but  now  ye  say,  we  see, 
therefore  your  sin  remaineth."  ' 

'  I  don't  remember  it ;  but  no  doubt  you  quote  cor- 
rectly.' 

*  Yes :  and  without  recollecting  it  you  express  the 
very  same  thing  that  they  did.  You  boast  of  seeing 
— of  having  as  much  light  as  you  require ;  and  in- 
deed, the  light  you  have  in  the  Old  Testament  is  a 
true  light,  shining  in  a  dark  place  ;  but  its  purpose  is 
to  show  you  a  path  whereby  you  may  emerge  and 
walk  in  the  blaze  of  day.  It  is  because  you  neglect 
this  use  of  the  light  already  vouchsafed,  that  you 
offend  the  gracious  Giver,  and  remain  under  his  dis- 
pleasure.    Oh,  that  you  would  search,  not  only  care- 


168  JUDAn's     LION. 

fully  but  prayerfully,  the  record  which  God  hath  given 
us  of  his  Son  !' 

Da  Costa  shook  his  head  ;  and  Captain  Ryan  de- 
sisted from  pressing  the  point  farther  at  that  time. 
They  parted  in  perfect  cordiality,  arranging  an  excur- 
sion for  the  morrow  to  explore  the  adjacent  country. 
Charley  eagerly  asked  whether  they  should  see  the 
house  of  Simon  the  tanner,  to  which  Da  Costa  re- 
plied that  he  would  take  care  he  should  visit  the  spot 
celebrated  as  the  remains  of  that  same  house.  He 
left  them  all  delighted  with  his  evidently  noble  cha- 
racter, and  Captain  Ryan,  while  he  foresaw  a  great 
hindrance  to  Alick's  progress  in  the  society  of  so  de- 
termined an  opposer,  rejoiced  in  the  hope  that 
always  animated  him  when  he  met  a  Hebrew  zealous 
in  the  law,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus  j  and  promising  equal 
zeal  in  whatsoever  the  Lord  might  enable  him  to  re- 
ceive. He  pondered  on  the  strange  anomaly  of  a 
man  who  sincerely  believed  in  God  as  the  Author  of 
all  truth  and  Preserver  from  all  error,  declining  to 
beseech  help  from  Him  when  studying  what  he  be- 
lieves to  be  a  false  and  danoferous  fable.  It  is  the 
enemy  of  souls  who  tempts  men  to  this  proud  reliance 
on  themselves  ;  and  surely  the  prayer  of  every  one 
who  loves  Israel  should  daily  ascend,  that  they  may 
turn  to  the  Lord ;  because  when  they  do  so,  the  veil 
shall  be  taken  away. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


No  real  amendment  took  place  in  the  health  of  Mr. 
Cohen  ;  his  debility  increased,  and  a  feverish  ten- 
dency bespoke  the  danger  of  continued  exposure  to  a 
relaxing  climate.  A  few  days  decided  his  plans  ;  and 
finding-  that  the  man-of-war  still  remained  in  the  port 
of  Valetta,  and  that  an  opportunity  presented  itself 
for  returning  thither  by  a  shorter  route  than  he  had 
anticipated,  he  resolved  on  availing  himself  of  it. 
Their  approaching  separation  rendered  every  hour 
precious  to  Alick  that  he  could  pass  with  his  father  ; 
consequently,  all  excursions  were  suspended  in  which 
he  could  not  join  without  fatigue. 

Da  Costa,  however,  managed  to  render  their  limited 
sphere  of  observation  very  interesting  by  the  rich 
store  of  local  and  historical  knowledge  with  which 
his  mind  was  furnished,  and  his  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  characters  both  of  the  country  and  the  peo- 
ple around  them.  The  Bazaar  of  Jaffa  was  a  favor- 
able spot  for  the  display  of  such  information  ;  and 
Charley's  inquisitiveness  was  sure  to  draw  it  all  out. 
Da  Costa  was  fond  of  children,  and  this  Irish  boy 
quite  won  his  heart;  to  the  surprise  of  his  parents, 
however,  Charley  remained  true  to  his  decided  pre- 
ference for  Alick.     He  warmly  returned  Da  Costa's 


170  judah's  liox. 

affectionate  regard,  but  a  smile  from  his  first  friend 
was  evidently  of  more  value  in  his  sight  than  all  that 
the  really  fascinating  stranger  could  do  or  say  to 
please  him.  This  was  the  more  remarked  by  Captain 
and  Mrs.  Ryan,  because  Alick  had  become  so  habit- 
ually silent  and  thoughtful,  that  it  formed  quite  a 
contrast,  not  only  to  his  lively  countryman,  but  to 
his  former  self.  Charley  often  stood  beside  Da  Costa, 
or  sate  on  his  knee,  listening  with  delioht  to  his  ani- 
mated  conversation  ;  but  he  was  sure  to  steal  away 
before  long,  and  to  settle  himself  in  his  old  station, 
his  bright  curls  spreading  on  Alick's  shoulder,  and 
his  eye  frequently  turned  to  discover  how  his  friend 
enjoyed  what  was  passing  around  them. 

'Dear  child  !'  whispered  Mrs.  Ryan  to  her  husband, 
on  one  of  these  occasions  ; — '  They  say  we  are  a  fickle 
people,  unstable  in  our  attachments  ;  but  that  babe  is 
a  living  contradiction  to  the  assertion.  Do  but  look 
how  lovingly  he  watches  everj'-  turn  of  Alick's  coun- 
tenance.' 

'  I  do  observe  it,  my  dear  ,'  and  it  affords  me  more 
satisfaction  than  you  are  aware  of.' 

One  of  the  first  visits  made  by  the  party  was  to  the 
reputed  house  of  Simon  the  tanner.  The  consul  to 
whom  it  belonged  had  given  a  ready  permission  to 
explore  every  corner  of  the  old  ruin,  which  was,  in- 
deed, a  work  of  no  difficulty. 

'And  is  this  Simon's  house  1'  asked  Charles,  in  a 
tone  where  doubt  and  disappointment  seemed  to  pre- 
dominate. 

'So  they  say,'  answered  Da  Costa. 

'Ah,  but  do  you  your  own  self  say  it  is  1'  persisted 
Charley. 
[    'How  can  I  tein    Or,   indeed,  what  does  it  matter, 


JUDAIl's    LION.  171 

SO  long  as  people  agree  to  believe  it  is ;  and  so  are 
equally  pleased,   whether  it  be  true  or  false.' 

'  Oh,  but  people  shouldn't  be  pleased  with  what  is 
false,'  answered  the  boy  in  his  quick  way  ;  '  and  no- 
body ought  to  agree  to  believe  a  lie.' 

'If  you  don't  look  sharp  after  this  lad,'  said  Da 
Costa  to  Captain  Ryan,  'he'll  fight  his  way  out  of  all' 
— he  checked  himself,  and  added,  '  he  will  believe 
no  more  than  can  be  proved  on  unimpeachable  evi- 
dence.' 


'  So  much  the  better,'  answered  the  Captain,  whose 
eye  had  just  then  caught  the  figure  of  a  ]\Ialtese 
sailor,  performing  a  variety  of  crossings  and  genu- 
flexions in  front  of  the  ruin,  with  a  string  of  beads 
depending  from  his  wrist. 

Da  Costa  turned  again  to  Charlej''.  '  Now  suppose 
it  to  be  all  true,  and  that  this  is  bona  fide  the  house 
where  the  tanner  lived,  what  is  there  in  it  to  make 
you  happy  in  seeing  it  V 

'  1  don't  know  what  bona  fide  is,  sir  ;  but  I  like  to 
see  places  where  things  happened.' 

'  Well,  I  have  helped  many  to  a  sight  of  this  place  ; 
but  I  confess  I  don't  exactly  know  what  happened 
here.  Can  you  tell  me  the  history  of  this  renowned 
tanner  V 

Charley's  eyes  sparkled  :  '  Oh,  it  isn't  the  tanner, 
Mr.  Dockster,'  (so  he  called  the  Jew) — '  we  know  no- 
thing about  him,  only  his  name  ;  but  Peter  lodged 
here :  and  he  went  up  to  the  top,  there,  to  pray, 
and — stop,  I'll  read  it ;  for  I  shall  make  a  jumble  if  I 
try  to  tell  you  all.'  He  borrowed  his  papa's  Bible, 
and  read  the  particulars,  to  v^hichthe  other  listened 
very  attentively,  as  did  both  the  Cohens.  Having 
ended,  he  shut  the  book,  and  said,  '  It  all  comes  to 
this,  Mr.  Dockster  5  up  to  that  time  you  Jews  had  the 


172  jttdah's  lion. 

true  religion  all  to  yourselves ;  but  here,  here,'  and 
he  looked  joyfully  up  again  to  the  dark,  dull  pile  of 
broken  building,  '  we  poor  Gentiles  were  let  in,  you 
see.' 

'  No,  no,'  said  Da  Costa,  involuntarily,  as  he  turned 
away,  with  a  look  of  displeasure  not  usually  seen  on 
his  cheerful  countenance.  Captain  Ryan  immediately 
asked,  '  Do  you  mean  to  deny  that  a  participation  in 
your  spiritual  blessings  was  promised  to  the  Gen- 
tiles'?' 

Da  Costa  answered  in  Hebrew,  '"You  only  have  I 
known  of  all  the  families  of  the  earth."  ' 

'  True  ;  at  the  time  those  words  were  spoken,  no 
nation  upon  earth,  save  Israel  alone,  knew  the  true 
God,  or  were  acknowledged  by  him  as  his  people; 
but,  versed  as  you  are  in  the  Scriptures,  a  moment's 
reflection  Avill  bring  innumerable  passages  to  your 
mind  where,  through  you,  a  blessing  is  promised  to 
Gentile  lands.  Take,  for  example,  the  promises 
given,  and  continually  repeated  to  Abraham  himself. 
"  In  thy  seed  shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed."     How  do  you  explain  thisl' 

'  It  is  not  yet  accomplished,'  replied  Da  Costa,  evi* 
dently  not  wishing  to  prolong  the  discussion  which  he 
had  inadvertently  provoked  ;  but  seeing  his  opponent 
by  no  means  disposed  to  let  it  drop,  he  added,  with 
some  warmth,  '  1  never  can,  I  never  will  for  a  moment 
credit  the  tale  that  any  part,  not  to  say  the  whole  of 
the  law  delivered  with  such  terrible  signs  and  awful 
sanctions  to  my  fathers,  through  their  great  leader, 
Moses,  was  abrogated  by  the  visionary  appearance  of 
a  bundle  of  beasts  to  an  obscure  fisherman  on  the  top 
of  a  house,'  and  he  looked  scornfully  up. 

'  In  the  first  place,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  nothing  was 
abrogated  in  the  way  you   mention.      A  remarkable 


jttdah's  lion.  173 

vision,  bearing'  upon  a  particular  branch  of  the  na- 
tional dispensation,  was  so  explained  to  Peter's  under- 
standing as  to  induce  a  ready  obedience  to  the  voice 
that  bade  him  go  and  bear  tidings  of  salvation  to  a 
Gentile  inquirer.  The  visionary  sheet  with  its  con- 
tents descended  from  heaven,  into  which  nothing 
defiling  can  enter  ;  and  the  lesson  impressed  on  his 
mind  was  that  God  had  cleansed  them.  The  whole 
was  typical  and  beautifully  expressive.  As  to  the 
individual  being  only  an  obscure  fisherman,  Moses 
was  nothing  greater  in  the  world's  estimation,  when 
keeping  sheep  on  the  mountain  where  the  Lord  first 
appeared  to  him.  Moses,  himself  an  Israelite,  was 
divinely  instructed  to  proclaim  to  the  people  of  Israel 
their  approaching  deliverance  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
the  house  of  bondage.  Peter,  also  an  Israelite,  was 
divinely  commissioned  to  announce  to  the  Gentiles, 
that  unto  them  too  was  granted  repentance  unto  life 
— deliverance  from  the  far  worse  bondage  of  Satan. 
Nor  were  the  signs  that  confirmed  the  divine  mission 
of  Peter  less  marvellous  than  those  vouchsafed  to 
Moses — nay,'  he  added,  as  Da  Costa,  with  crimsoning 
cheek,  attempted  to  interrupt  him  :  '  hear  me  out. 
The  powers  given  to  such  as  believed,  in  those  days, 
were  as  marvellous  as  any  on  record.  They  spake 
with  tongues  of  which  they  were  before  wholly  igno- 
rant ;  they  cast  out  devils,  they  healed  the  sick,  they 
recalled  the  dead  to  life.  And  more,  aye,  far  more 
than  all  this,  Da  Costa,  they  prevailed  so  to  plant  this 
hated,  persecuted  religion,  without  the  aid  of  sword 
or  spear,  without  the  aid  of  regal  power,  or  an  atom 
of  worldly  influence,  without  even  the  aid  of  human 
vvisdom,  or  learning,  or  skill,  that  not  all  the  powers  of 
earth  and  hell  combined  could  resist  the  progress,  or 
shake  the  solidity  of  the  work.  Oh,  believe  me,  what 
16 


174  :rui)AH  s  lion. 

you  scorn  as  a  bare  invention  of  man,  is  but  the  con= 
tinuation,  the  completion  of  God's  glorious  work,  be- 
gun in  Mount  Horeb,  finished  on  Mount  Calvary,  and 
yet  to  be  proclaimed  and  established  throughout  the 
world  from  the  summit  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  when 
the  feet  of  your  glorious  King  and  ours  shall  there 
stand,  and  his  voice  be  heard,  and  from  his  presence 
the  ungodly,  like  smoke,  shall  vanish  away.  "  And 
the  Lord  shall  be  King  over  all  the  earth :  in  that  day 
there  shall  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one." ' 

He  gave  the  text  in  Hebrew  ;  and  as  he  stood  facing 
the  fiery  Israelite,  with  a  look,  tone,  action,  not  a  whit 
less  fiery  than  his  own.  Da  Costa's  countenance  sof- 
tened into  an  expression  of  gentle  kindness,  evidently 
no  less  natural  to  it  than  the  high  determination  of  the 
preceding  moment.  '  Well,  Ryan,  I,  for  one,  shall 
rejoice  to  see  you,  and  such  as  you,  partakers  in 
the  blessedness  of  that  glorious  period,  which  you 
seem  to  see  at  once  so  clearly  and  through  so  wrong 
a  medium,  that  your  faith  furnishes  me  with  the  most 
puzzling  enigma  I  ever  tried  to  read.  Many  have 
talked  in  my  hearing  of  the  same  thing  that  you  con- 
tinually dwell  upon ;  but  they  speak  after  such  a  cut- 
and-dried  fashion,  with  unmoved  muscle,  lack-lustre 
eye,  and  measured,  meanless  tone,  that  the  manner  is 
sufficient  antidote  to  the  matter  of  their  discourse. 
You,  on  the  contrary,  fairly  boil  over  from  the  work- 
ings of  a  mind  thoroughly  heated  by  its  subject. 
You  are  in  earnest,'  he  continued  emphatically  ;  '  and 
I  can  only  account  for  your  having  such  an  evident 
part  in  our  high  anticipations,  by  remembering  the 
national  claim  to  consanguinity  which  I  believe  you 
really  possess.  So,  my  dear  fellow,  on  this  accom- 
modating neutral  ground  we  may  for  the  present  take 
©ur  stand :  and  time  will  settle  the  rest.' 


judah's  lion.  175 

Alick  looked  hard  at  Captain  Ryan,  as  if  to  read  his 
thoughts;  and  the  latter  said,  'Not  so,  Da  Costa: 
there  is  no  neutral  ground  for  either  of  us  to  occupy. 
The  King  whom  we  both  expect  will  be  to  us  a  king 
of  terrors,  if  we  regard  him  not  in  all  the  bearings  of 
his  three-fold  office.  Prophet  and  Priest,  equally  as 
King,  As  Prophet,  he  must  have  somewhat  to  teach 
more  than  Moses  directly  taught ;  for  to  Moses  God 
saith,  "  I  will  raise  them  up  a  Prophet  from  among 
their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words 
in  his  mouth,  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I 
shall  command  him.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
whosoever  will  not  hearken  unto  my  words  which  he 
shall  speak  in  my  name,  I  will  require  it  of  him." 
Again,  as  Priest,  he  must  have  a  calling  higher  than 
that  of  the  Levitical  priesthood,  higher  than  Aaron, 
for  David  distinctly  says,  "  T^ie  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
will  not  repent,  Thou  art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the 
order  of  Melchizedek."  Now  Melchizedek  was,  as 
you  will  see  here  (Genesis  xiv.  18),  king  of  Salem, 
and  priest  of  the  Most  High  God :  he  blessed  Abram 
in  the  name  of  the  Most  High  God :  he  praised  the 
Most  High  God  for  delivering  his  enemies  into  his 
hand ;  and  now,  Da  Costa,  what  did  Abraham  unto 
Melchizedek  1 ' 

Da  Costa,  who  was  deeply  examining  the  Hebrew 
text,  which  Ryan  all  along  had  quoted,  supplied  the 
answer  from  it,  * "  He  gave  him  tithes  of  all."  But 
I  don't  see  the  slightest  connection  between  this  and 
what  we  were  talking  of.' 

'  Wait :  we  are  talking  of  Messiah  the  King  whom 
I  assert  to  be  also  the  Prophet  like  unto  Moses,  and 
the  everlasting  Priest,  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek. 
I  have  said  that  the  promised  Prophet  must  have  a 
farther  revelation  to  make  after  that  of  Moses :  and 


M 


"^: 


176  judah's  lion. 

I  am  showing  that  the  predicted  Priest,  being  after  the 
order  of  Melchizedek,  must  have  a  priesthood  higher 
than  that  of  Aaron  ;  for  Abraham,  the  forefather  of 
Levi,  and  of  every  tribe  of  Israel,  received  a  blessing 
from,  and  paid  tithes  to,  this  Melchizedek,  who  was  a 
vivid  type  of  the  Messiah  ;  for  as  a  king,  the  king  of 
Salem,  king  of  Peace,  he  met  and  greeted  Abraham  j 
as  a  Prophet  he  announced  him  blessed  of  the  Most 
High  God,  and  as  a  Priest  he  received  at  his  hand  the 
tithe  of  his  spoils — the  exact  provision  afterwards 
divinely  appointed  for  the  Levitical  Priesthood.  Out 
of  your  own  Scriptures  I  draw  these  truths  ;  I  lay 
them  before  you ;  I  tell  you  that  in  him  for  whose 
second  coming  I  look,  I  find  all  the  prophetical, 
priestly,  kingly  character  combined  in  glorious  har- 
mony, and  shining  forth  with  divine  effulgence  ;  and  I 
tell  you,  too,  that  unless  we  thus  recognize  him, 
neither  Jew  nor  Gentile  can  hail  his  appearing  other- 
wise than  as  the  signal  for  their  immediate  and  ever- 
lasting destruction.' 

'  You  are  a  master  of  your  subject,'  said  Da  Costa ; 
*  whereas  I,  having  nothing  at  hand  to  which  I  may 
refer,  and  being  but  indifferently  read  in  the  subtleties 
of  these  controversial  matters,  stand  at  a  manifest 
disadvantage.  Yet  had  I  even  my  travelling  book-case 
within  reach,  I  would  answer  you.' 

'  Da  Costa,'  said  Ryan  solemnly,  laying  his  hand  on 
his  shoulder,  '  the  coming  for  which  we  look  may  be 
instantaneous  ;  or,  by  a  stroke,  sudden  and  unexpected 
as  the  midnight  flash,  you  may  be  removed  into  the 
world  of  spirits  ;  and  in  either  case  you  must  answer 
for  yourself — an  answer  on  which  hangs  your  eternal 
doom.  Oh,  will  it  suffice  you  then  to  talk  of  a  book- 
case, when  the  thrilling  inquiry  is  put,  "Why  didst 
thou  not  believe  the  writings  of  Moses,  of  David,  of 


lUDAH^S   LlON.  l^t 

all  the  prophets,  when  taught  hy  my  Spirit,  they  testr- 
fied  of  me  1"  Here,  in  this  narrow  compass,  lie  all  the 
books  we  require.  By  Jews,  by  Jews  alone  was  every 
word  written  :  you  gave  us  the  bread  of  life,  and  why 
will  you  perish  with  hunger,  while  a  grateful  Gentile 
believer  in  your  own  glorious  Messiah,  implores  you 
to  eat  and  be  satisfied  :  to  look  and  live  ! ' 

Tears  started  in  the  eyes  of  the  ardent  Christian, 
soldier,  as,  pressing  the  sacred  volume  against  the 
bosom  of  the  Jew,  he  gazed  upon  him  with  all  the 
yearnings  of  one  who  sees  his  dearest  benefactor  per- 
ishing and  refusing  to  be  rescued.  Da  Costa's  eyes 
were  wholly  shaded  by  the  long  dark  lashes  that  fell 
over  them,  bent  as  they  were  on  the  ground  ;  and  it 
was  impossible  to  determine  by  what  species  of  emo- 
tion his  cheek  was  blanched,  his  brow  knit,  and  his  lips 
compressed.  It  might  be  smothered  wrath  ;  it  might 
be  wounded  pride  ;  it  might  be  an  awakened  fear  that 
all  was  not  safe  with  him ;  be  it  what  it  might,  all  was 
for  some  moments  silent  and  still  throughout  the 
group.  Mrs.  Ryan's  heart  echoed  the  prayer  which 
she  knew  her  husband  was  silently  breathing  on  behalf 
of  his  Hebrew  friend.  Mr.  Cohen,  seated  on  a  broken 
fragment,  was  deeply  pondering  what  he  heard ;  and 
Alick,  in  whose  arms  little  Charley  had  fallen  asleep 
through  fatigue,  had  his  countenance  lighted  up  with 
a  gladness  which  he  seemed  desirous  of  checking,  or 
at  least  of  disguising,  but  he  could  not.  He  had  longed 
to  witness  a  direct  attack  on  either  side,  where  little 
more  than  light  skirmishing  had  hitherto  taken  place ; 
and  now  his  wish  was  gratified. 

'  The  Gentile,'  thought  he,  '  takes  all  his  arguments 

out  of  the  New  Testament  without  owning  it.    I  have 

read  all  that  about  Melchizedek  in  the  Epistle  to  the 

Hebrews,  or  I  am  much  mistaken  ;  but  Da  Costa  thinks 

16* 


178  judah's  lion. 

it  is  all  new.  Why  does  he  not  read  for  himself,  so  as 
to  remember  it  1  And  why  does  he  not  now  give  a 
reason  for  disbelieving  what  the  other  says  1  Oh,  that 
I  myself  knew  how  much  to  believe  and  how  much  to 
reject  of  these  things  ! '  The  consciousness  of  unsatis- 
fied doubt  again  saddened  his  looks;  and  before  anyone 
could  remark  the  smile  of  pleasure,  it  had  passed  away. 

'What  a  persevering  fellow  is  th^t  Irishman,'  said 
Da  Costa,  the  next  time  he  was  alone  with  Alick.  '  Of 
just  such  stufl",  I  should  imagine,  were  the  proselytes 
of  other  days  made ;  noble,  aspiring  tempers,  who 
hovered  about  Judaism  like  the  moth  around  the  flame, 
till  they  were  caught  and  blended  with  the  all-conquer- 
ing element.' 

'  Were  you  in  any  way  staggered  by  his  arguments  1 ' 
asked  Alick. 

'  No  J  but  I  was  mortified  at  being  unable  to  answer 
him,  through  my  imperfect  knowledge  of  a  book  in 
which  we  ought  at  least  to  be  as  well  read  as  any 
Gentile.  Of  course,  he  got  his  interpretations  from 
commentators  of  his  own  creed ;  and  he  has  studied 
them  to  good  purpose.' 

'  No,  he  told  me  to  the  contrary  ;  he  was  on  service, 
thinking  of  nothing  but  military  fame,  knowing  and 
caring  nothing  about  religion  of  any  sort,  when  by 
some  means  he  got  alarmed  as  to  the  state  he  was  in 
before  God.  It  was  in  a  wild  part  of  India,  far  from 
any  minister,  or  any  books  except  the  Bible ;  and  for 
a  year  that  was  his  only  teacher,  his  only  comfort. 
He  there  learned  all  that  he  knows  of  religion  ;  and  on 
returning  home,  instead  of  sitting  down,  as  he  says,  to 
find  out  what  other  men  had  thought  of  the  matter,  he 
tried  to  rouse  the  minds  of  those  around  him  who  had 
never  thought  about  it  at  all.  He  declares  it  was  the 
Bible  alone  that  led  him  to  take  such  an  interest  in 


judah's  lion.  179 

our  people  j  and  from  that  he  gets  his  arguments  to 
prove  that  we  are  in  darkness.' 

*In  other  words,  he  comes  to  our  armory  for  a 
sword  to  cut  our  throats  with.' 

'  Yes  ;  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I  think  it  a  pity  we 
don't  go  there  ourselves  for  a  shield  to  defend  them.' 

'  That's  true  :  but  he  refers  only  to  the  written  word, 
whereas  we  have  the  oral  law,  equally  binding,  and 
requiring  a  vast  deal  more  study  than  you  or  I  could 
bestow  to  acquaint  ourselves  with  it.' 

'  Still,'  said  Alick,  '  as  he  neither  quotes  nor  recog- 
nizes anything  of  ours,  but  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  I 
don't  see  why  we  should  not  enable  ourselves  to  meet 
him  there.' 

'  But  we  cannot  rightly  interpret  these  books  with- 
out the  help  of  our  learned  Rabbis,  who  devoted  their 
lives  to  the  discovery  of  hidden  meanings,  not  discern- 
ible to  such  as  we.' 

'  Then  they  are  not  discernible  to  him,'  rejoined 
Alick,  '  so  we  shall  still  be  on  a  par.  Besides,  to  tell 
you  the  truth,  T  do  not  think  that  God  would  so  write 
his  book  as  to  make  falsehood  appear  on  the  face  of 
it,  and  leave  truth  to  be  discovered  only  by  those  who 
have  learning,  and  leisure  for  intense  study.' 

Da  Costa  shook  his  head  :  *  Have  a  care,  Cohen  j 
you  are  on  dangerous  ground.' 

'  No,  I  think  not  j  take  any  passage  in  the  prophe- 
cies, touching  our  national  preservation,  restoration, 
triumph,  and  perpetuity — we  understand,  we  believe, 
and  rejoice  in  it.  But  listen  to  a  Gentile  commen- 
tator, you  will  hear  him  setting  aside  the  plain  mean- 
ing as  figurative,  typical,  and  all  that ;  and  claiming 
for  himself  and  his  uncircumcized  brethren,  what  God 
has  promised  to  the  seed  of  Abraham  alone — and  all 
by  virtue  of  a  hidden  meaning ! ' 


180  judah's  lion. 

Da  Costa  was  struck  by  this  argument,  'You  are 
right,  my  lad  :  there  lies  enough  on  the  surface  for  us 
to  glean  a  profitable  harvest.  Shall  we  begin  to  study 
in  earnest,  a  la  Ryan  1 ' 

'  I  am  past  beginning :  I  have  been  at  it  pretty  hard 
for  weeks.' 

It  was  agreed  that  they  should  read  the  Hebrew 
scriptures  together  daily ;  and  Alick  felt  happier  than 
he  had  done  for  some  time  5  nor  was  his  pleasure  les-^ 
sened  when  Da  Costa  proposed  that  they  should  occa* 
sionally  look  into  the  New  Testament  to  see,  as  he 
said,  how  the  Christians  contrived  to  twist  to  their 
own  purposes  and  meanings  the  words  of  truth.  '  With 
all  my  heart,'  said  Alick:  'but  just  remember  one 
thing,  Da  Costa  i  I  have  a  great  dislike  to  calling 
names.' 

'  You  are  right,'  replied  the  noble  Israelite.  '  Scur* 
rility  can  form  no  part  of  a  gentleman's  religion  ;  from 
me  you  will  hear  no  word  of  railing  reproach,  in 
reference  to  what  we  both  most  heartily  disbelieve 
and  detest.' 

Alick  could  not  stand  this  appeal  to  his  honesty  5 
he  boldly  said,  '  I  am  far  from  being  persuaded  that  I 
am  bound  to  detest  what,  however,  I  cannot  say  that  I 
believe  ;  the  character  of  Jesus  is  a  very  lovely  one, 
so  far  as  I  can  see  ;  and  surely  I  may  regard  it  with 
respect,  while  rejecting  his  claims  to  the  Messiahship.' 

'You  will  see  there  is  no  medium,' observed  Da 
Costa,  very  composedly.  '  However,  our  plan  will 
put  an  end  to  your  doubts,  if  any  exist  ;  for  I  know 
no  better  way  to  guard  a  man  against  these  idolatrous 
inventions,  than  to  investigate  the  clumsy  fabrications 
on  which  they  are  grounded.  I  found  it  so  myself  5  a 
cursory  perusal  of  that  book  which  they  have  pre- 
sumed to  bind  up  with  our  sacred  writings,  left  me 


judah's  lion.  181 

quite  proof  against  the  theological  devices  of  all  the 
Nazarenes  beneath  the  sun.' 

The  eve  of  Mr.  Cohen's  departure  was  spent  chiefly 
in  private  discourse  between  him  and  his  son.  '  I  wish 
you,  my  dear  boy,'  he  said,  '  to  cultivate  the  friend- 
ship of  Da  Costa  ;  for  he  is  the  very  soul  of  integrity, 
and  in  every  way  a  delightful,  a  valuable  companion 
for  you  :  yet  in  my  own  place,  I  would  prefer  leaving 
the  Ryans,  as  already  settled  ;  not  only  because  they 
have  sacrificed  their  convenience  and  altered  all  their 
plans  for  our  accommodation,  but  that,  really,  I  find 
my  respect  for,  my  confidence  in  them,  daily  increas- 
ed. For  myself,  Alick,  I  am  not  so  strong  as  I  was, 
nor  can  we  penetrate  the  decrees  of  the  Most  High, 
as  to  whether  He  will  revive  and  restore  me  or  other- 
wise :  but  this  I  know,  that  my  firm  trust  is  in  Hinti 
who  has  not  said  to  the  house  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  me 
in  vain.' 

After  a  short  silence,  which  Alick  had  not  power  to 
break,  Mr.  Cohen  asked,  '  What  was  the  name  of  that 
honest  gunner  on  board  our  old  ship  1 ' 

'  Gordon,  sir,'  answered  Alick  ;  in  whose  bosom  the 
question  excited  other  emotions  besides  that  of  pleas- 
ed surprise.  Much  excellent  advice  and  expressions 
of  paternal  love  on  the  one  side,  responded  to  by  pro- 
mises of  obedience,  and  the  overflowings  of  grateful 
affection  on  the  other,  closed  this  interview.  Alick 
scarcely  slept  that  night ;  prayers  for  his  dear  father, 
and  thoughts  of  home  that  almost  tempted  him  to 
insist  on  returning,  occupied  the  hours.  But  at  early 
dawn  he  was  roused  by  the  voice  of  Da  Costa,  who 
spoke  of  an  arrangement  made  with  the  Ryans  to  start 
for  Jerusalem  on  the  following  day  ;  and  this,  as  he 
conjectured  it  would,  gradually  softened  to  Alick  the 
pang  of  bidding  a  long  farewell  to  his  fond  parent. 


182  jtidah's  lion. 

As  the  little  vessel  scudded  away  from  the  land,  the 
two  young  Hebrews  mounted  a  rising  ground,  to  gaze 
on  its  lessening  sails  ;  and  Da  Costa  exclaimed,  'Lord, 
how  long  %  Still  must  the  children  of  thy  chosen 
come  to  these  shores,  the  guests  of  a  day,  and  depart 
into  renewed  exile  1  Oh,  when  wilt  thou  set  thine 
hand  to  gather  us  from  the  four  winds,  and  plant  thy 
people  once  more  upon  the  holy  mountain,  Jerusalem ! 
Lord,  how  long  1 ' 

No  time  was  lost  in  arranging  for  the  journey  for- 
ward :  and  with  many  delightful  anticipations  of  what 
was  in  store  for  them,  the  strangers — that  is  to  say, 
Mrs.  Ryan,  Charley,  and  Alick,  watched  the  progress 
of  preparation  in  which  Da  Costa  took  the  lead. 
Horses  were  provided,  and  a  little  seat  for  Charles 
was,  by  the  clever  contrivance  of  his  father,  so  ar- 
ranged on  the  front  of  his  own  saddle  as  to  secure  the 
boy  both  from  danger  and  the  fatigue  he  must  other- 
wise have  encountered,  unless, — which  he  would  by 
no  means  consent  to, — he  was  so  carried  as  to  deprive 
him  of  a  look-out  on  all  sides. 

'  I  will  see  every  bit  of  the  country,  so  T  will,'  said 
Charley;  'for  it  is  God's  own  land,  and  there  is  no 
other  like  it  all  over  the  world.' 

'  The  earth  is  the  Lord's,'  remarked  his  mother: 
*  and  every  country  throughout  the  whole  world  is 
His.' 

'  I  know  it,  mamma  ;  but  not  like  this.  Everybody 
has  other  places,  but  nobody  has  the  Holy  Land.' 

'  I  should  like  to  hear  you  make  that  out,'  said  Da 
Costa,  who  was  improving  the  fashion  of  a  cap  to  de- 
fend the  little  fellow's  eyes  from  the  hot  sun. 

'  I  can't  make  it  out  very  well  for  you,  Mr.  Dock- 
ster ;  but  sure  I  know  what  I  know,  and  I  know  what 
I  think,  though  I  can't  put  it  in  words.' 


;^DDAH^S  LION.  183 

*  Well,  but  try,  Charley  :  let  us  know  what  you 
think,  too.' 

'  Why  then,  didn't  God  give  you  this  land  all  to 
yourselves  entirely,  Mr.  Jews  1 '  asked  the  boy,  ad- 
dressing his  two  friends. 

'Aye,  that  he  did,'  answered  Da  Costa;  and  Alick 
added,  '  every  inch  of  it,  Charley,  to  Abraham,  and  to 
his  seed  after  him,  for  ever.' 

'  That's  it,  that's  it,'  shouted  the  little  boy,  taking  a 
jump  like  a  young  kid.  '  He  didn't  give  it  to  anybody 
else  then.' 

'  Never — never  ! ' 

Here  the  little  fellow's  countenance  changed  to 
great  and  serious  earnestness  ;  he  glided  up  to  Da 
Costa,  and  taking  hold  of  the  end  of  his  sash,  said, 
*  Have  you  got  the  land  now  1  have  you  1 '  and  without 
waiting  for  a  reply,  he  went  on,  sorrowfully  shaking 
his  head,  '  No,  you  hav'n't,  you  hav'n't  got  it — 

"  The  cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone;"  ' 

The  well  remembered  lines  made  Alick's  heart  thrill. 
Da  Costa,  who  had  never  heard  the  child  quote  them 
before,  seemed  overwhelmed  with  astonishment* 
Charley  then,  with  great  rapidity,  went  on  ;  'So  it  isn't 
anybody  else's,  and  you  hav'n't  got  it ;  and  it's  just 
like  my  blue  coat  that  was  made  too  big  for  me,  and 
mamma  keeps  it  locked  up  till  I  grow  bigger:  and  it's 
mine,  and  nobody  else's;  but  it's  mamma's  till  I  get 
it — and  so,  and  so, — that's  what  I  think,  you  darling 
of  a  Jew  ! '  and  then,  by  means  of  Da  Costa's  sash  and 
arm,  he  climbed  up, — a  manoeuvre  that  Alick  had 
taught  him — and  hung  round  his  neck. 

'  Well  said,  my  boy  ! '  exclaimed  Captain  Ryan,  who 
with  ineffable  delight  had  listened  to  his  explanation. 


184  jitdah's  lion. 

'  This  land  is  the  Lord's  in  a  most  peculiar  sense  in- 
deed ;  and  in  proof  that  howsoever  it  may  be  occupied 
during  the  interval  of  his  dear  people's  dispersion,  it 
actually  belongs  to  no  other  race,  he  shuts  up  its  fer- 
tility, withholds  the  corn,  the  wine,  the  oil,  the  milk 
and  the  honey,  and  everything  that  constituted  it  the 
glory  of  all  lands,  locking  it  up — no  expression  could 
better  describe  the  thing — until  the  time  comes  for 
the  renewed  occupancy  of  those  to  whom  it  so  truly 
appertains.     What  say  you,  Da  Costa  "? ' 

'  I  say.  Captain  Kyan,'  answered  the  Jew,  who  had 
all  the  while  been  caressing  Charles  most  fondly,  'that 
a  man  with  such  arrows  as  this  in  his  quiver  may  well 
stand  in  the  gate,  and  face  every  enemy.  The  bless- 
ing of  the  race  you  love  be  upon  you,  boy!  there  is 
more  in  that  young  mind  than  1  can  fathom.' 

They  set  out,  and  all  was  sunshine  around  them. 
How  often  does  the  morning  beam  rest  brightly  where, 
before  evening's  fall,  the  clouds  shall  gather,  and  the 
storm  burst,  and  desolation  overspread  a  path  where 
the  pilgrim  looked  only  for  peace  and  joy  ! 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


The  cavalcade  that  left  the  walls  of  Jaffa,  though  not 
an  extensive,  was  yet  a  respectable  one.  Recent 
events  had  opened  the  route  considerably  more  than 
might  have  been  anticipated  fifty  years  before  ;  but  it 
still  was  a  difficult,  and  frequently  an  unsafe  road. 
The  wandering  Arab's  hand,  restrained  by  powerful 
authority,  was  still  against  every  man  ;  and  theft,  if 
nothing  worse,  might  be  apprehended,  in  the  absence 
of  due  precaution.  Our  travellers,  therefore,  were 
well  armed,  and  sufficiently  attended.  Alick,  to  his 
infinite  delight,  found  himself  on  the  back  of  a  most 
frolicksome  young  horse  ;  and  Da  Costa,  equally  well 
mounted,  fully  partook  in  the  exhilaration  of  spirit 
that  rose  beyond  control.  Often,  when  the  road  per- 
mitted, the  young  men  resigned  themselves  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  their  fleet  and  fiery  Arabian  steeds,  making 
wide  circuits  at  a  wild  full  gallop,  and  returning  in 
breathless  glee  to  their  more  sedate  but  not  less  cheer- 
ful companions.  It  was  during  one  of  these  their  excur- 
sive expeditions  that  Mrs.  Ryan  took  the  opportunity  of 
remarkins:  to  her  husband, '  I  did  not  think  Alick  would 
have  approached  Jerusalem  in  such  buoyant  spirits.' 

'  Dear  boy  !'  answered  Captain  Ryan,  '  he  has  been 
heavily   oppressed   of   late  ;    and   this   ebullition    of 
17 


186  judah's  lion. 

youthful  joyousness  is  quite  natural.  Do  you  not  feel 
a  gladdening  influence  in  the  soft,  balmy  air,  the  bril- 
liant sunbeams,  the  gorgeous  tints  of  those  rich  flow- 
ers,  relieved  bj'  patches  of  verdure  almost  rivalling  that 
of  our  own  emerald  isle — that  waving  line  of  majestic 
mountains,  and  the  combination  of  magnificence  with 
tender  beauty  that  perpetually  meets  your  eye  V 

'  I  do,  my  love  :  but  yet' — she  hesitated,  and  hung 
her  head  over  the  bridle  that  she  had  been  knotting 
round  her  fingers — • 

'But  what,  Ellen,  dearest  1  goon  and  tell  meal!.' 

'Indeed,  indeed,  Robert,  I  cannot  feel  joyous. 
These  things  do,  as  you  say,  gladden  me  by  their  love- 
liness, but  the  feeling  is  momentary.  My  heart  is  sad  : 
my  spirit  mourns  and  cries  "Ichabod."  For  alas! 
"  How  hath  the  Lord  covered  the  daughter  of  Zion 
with  a  cloud  in  his  anger,  and  cast  down  from  heaven 
unto  the  earth  the  beautj'^  of  Israel,  and  remembered 
not  his  footstool  in  the  day  of  his  anger  !  The  Lord 
hath  swallowed  up  all  the  habitations  of  Jacob,  and 
hath  not  pitied  ;  he  hath  thrown  down  in  liis  wrath  the 
strongholds  of  the  daughter  of  Judah :  he  hath 
brought  them  down  to  the  ground  :  he  hath  polluted 
the  kingdom  and  the  princes  thereof."  ' 

She  repeated  these  words  of  the  prophet  in  a  voice 
so  musically  sad,  that  it  attracted  the  notice  of  some 
of  the  attendants,  and  one  of  them,  a  very  fine  young 
Syrian,  drew  near  to  listen  to  her  tones.  Charley, 
who  had  been  shouting  with  delight  at  the  equestrian 
exploits  of  his  friends,  was  also  arrested  by  them  ; 
and  the  change  that  came  over  his  countenance  was 
very  marked.  He  glanced  at  the  listening  foreigner, 
and  said,  '  Papa,  tell  that  nasty  Turk  to  keep  away 
from  us.' 

'Fie,  Charles:  what  has  the  poor  fellow  done  to  of- 


judah's  lion.  187 

fend  you,  or  to  provoke  such  an  unbecoming  expres- 
sion V 

'  Why  he  is  a  Turk,  and  has  got  Jerusalem  away 
from  tlie  Jews,  and  he  hates  the  Jews,  and  so  I  don't 
want  him  to  come  pokeing  here,  listening  to  what  we 
say,  papa.' 

'  It  would  be  a  pity  he  should  hear  what  you  say, 
certainly  !' replied  Captain  Ryan,  half  smiling;  'but 
in  the  first  place  he  cannot  understand  our  language  ; 
in  the  next  place  he  is  no  Turk  ;  and  lastly,  of  whatso- 
ever nation  he  might  be,  he  is  a  man,  and  my  little  boy 
must  not  forget  the  Apostle's  injunction,  to  "honor 
all  men." ' 

'  Oh,  papa,  I  am  very  sorry,  I  quite  forgot  that  ;  but 
are  you  sure  he  is  not  a  Turk,  papa  V 

'  Yes,  he  is  a  Christian,  in  name  at  least  ;  but  bye- 
and-bye  we  shall  see  more  Turks  than  we  have  yet 
done,  and  I  hope  you  will  indulge  no  ill-will  against 
them,  poor  fellows!' 

Charley  shook  his  head  ;  his  prejudices  were  strong, 
and  to  avoid  giving  any  promise  he  turned  to  bis  mo- 
ther ;  '  Mamma,  don't  you  hate  the  Turks  1' 

'  Hate  them,  my  dear  1  no;  on  the  contrary  I  feel 
greatly  interested  for  them.' 

Charley  seemed  quite  at  fault ;  however,  to  his 
great  relief,  the  two  Jews  now  trotted  up,  and  he 
bawled  out  at  the  top  of  his  little  voice,  '  Mr.  Dock- 
ster  !  Mr.  Alick!  don't  you  hate  the  Turks  V 

'  Not  at  all,'  replied  Da  Costa,  laughing  ;  and  Alick 
added,  '  Such  respectable-lookingpersonages,  Charley, 
with  turbans,  and  beards,  and  famous  long  pipes,  who 
can  help  admiring  them  1' 

To  the  surprise  of  the  party,  the  little  fellow  hurst 
into  a  fit  of  angry  crying,  and  said,  'Nobody  loves  the 
poor  dear  Jews  but  me  1' 


188  JUDAIl's  LION. 

Mrs.  Ryan  began  to  expostulate  ;  Alick  to  soothe  | 
but  Da  Costa,  after  fixing  a  look  of  deep  anxiety  on 
his  face  drew  close  to  Captain  Ryan,  and  whispered, 
'He  is  ill.' 

The  father's  arm  trembled  as  he  pressed  the  sobbing 
babe  to  his  bosom,  and  said  in  the  softest  tone  :  '  Yes, 
the  Lord  loves  the  poor  dear  Jews  far  better  than  my 
Charley  can  do.' 

Smiling  through  his  tears,  the  little  fellow  looked 
up,  stroked  his  father's  face,  and  replied,  'I  know  it.' 
The  touch  of  that  hot,  dry  hand  was  but  too  confirma- 
tory of  Da  Costa's  whisper.  Captain  Ryan  held  it  to 
his  lips,  and  in  a  cheerful,  but  still  very  soothing  voice, 
said,  "  Surely  there  is  no  enchantment  against  Jacob, 
neither  is  there  any  divination  against  Israel;  accord- 
ing to  this  time  it  shall  be  said  of  Jacob  and  of  Israel, 
What  hath  God  wrought !  ' ' 

'  Good,  good  !'  cried  Charley  ;  '  tell  me  some  more 
Bible,  papa,  now  we  are  in  Bible-land.' 

Meanwhile  Da  Costa  had  said  something  to  Alick 
that  blanched  his  cheek  ;  but  he  made  an  effort  to  look 
unconcerned.  Mrs.  Ryan,  ignorant  of  its  immediate 
cause,  seemed  pleased  at  the  seriousness  of  those 
whose  thoughts  she  had  expected  to  find  more  in  uni- 
son with  her  own. 

'I  am  glad  you  express  no  unkind  or  resentful  feel- 
ing against  the  poor  Turks,'  she  said  to  Da  Costa, 
*  They  certainly  had  no  hand  in  bringing  calamity  on 
your  people,  and  their  prejudices  are  not  stronger 
against  you  than  those  of  some  who  call  themselves 
Christians,  and  from  whom,  not  from  you,  they  wrest- 
ed the  land.' 

'  True,'  replied  he  :  '  their  quarrel  was  with  the  Cru- 
saders, with  whom,  I  believe  you  have  little  fellowship 
of  feeling,  and  one  of  the  first  exploits  of  a  crusading 


judah's  lion.  189 

corps,  preparatory  to  marching  against  the  warlike 
Saracens,  was  to  murder,  with  every  aggravation  of 
cruelty,  some  community  of  unarmed,  helpless,  un- 
resisting Israelites  in  their  own  neighborhood.'  He 
spoke  with  cool  contempt,  but  his  cheek  burned  with 
a  fire  that  he  strove  to  smother. 

'  Who  did  that  1'  asked  Alick  hastily. 

'  Rome,'  replied  Mrs.  Ryan.  '  You  know  the  origin 
of  the  Crusades :  the  Turks  had  conquered  the  holy 
land,  this  holy  land  (and  she  looked  round  with  glis- 
tening eyes)  from  the  Romans,  and  established  them"- 
selves  in  it,  to  the  expulsion  of  all  that  bore  the  name, 
however  falsely,  of  Christianity.  To  recover  this 
rich  possession,  the  Roman  Pontiff  brought  into  the 
market  his  treasury  of  spiritual  merchandizes,  and 
gathered  armies  out  of  every  nation  subjected  to  his 
yoke,  making  it  a  work  of  merit  sufficient  for  the  pur- 
chase of  an  eternal  inheritance  in  heaven,  to  drive  the 
Turk  from  Palestine,  and  to  re-establish  the  supersti- 
tious practices  that,  alas  !  I  fear  we  shall  soon  see 
in  full  display  at  what  they  call  the  holy  sepul- 
chre.' 

The  fiery  animation  and  exulting  delight  that  flash> 
ed  from  Da  Costa's  eyes,  reminded  her  that  a  wrong 
construction  might  be  put  on  her  words;  she  there- 
fore corrected  herself :  '  1  say,  what  they  call  the 
holy  sepulchre,  because  there  is  very  strong  ground 
to  question  whether  the  spot  over  which  they  have 
reared  a  church  is  indeed  that  where  the  body  of  our 
blessed  Lord  was  laid  during  the  period  that  interven- 
ed [between  his  death  and  glorious  resurrection.  I, 
for  one,  hope  it  is  not ;  for  grievous  indeed  must  it  be 
to  the  eye  of  one  who  loves  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  behold 
the  idolatrous  abominations  that  are  perpetrated  in  Hi$ 
name,  under  a  supposition  that  there  he  was  laid,  and 
17* 


190  judah's  lion. 

there  burst  the  tomb.  To  return  :  these  crusading 
expeditions  were  led  by  kings,  and  comprised  the 
flower  of  everj'^  European  land.  They  were  blessed 
to  the  work,  plentifully  supplied  with  counter-charms 
to  meet  the  supposed  sorcery  of  the  Moslem  ;  and  as 
a  trial  of  martial  prowess,  an  introduction  to  the  work 
of  blood,  and  a  peculiaily  acceptable  sacrifice  to  the 
God  of  peace  and  mercy,  the  God  of  Israel,  they  were 
encouraged  to  seek  out  and  to  massacre  the  Hebrew 
families  who  dwelt  in  their  respective  countries.  This 
they  did,  with  every  circumstance  of  cruelty  that  Sa- 
tanic malignity  could  suggest,  and  persecuting  exe- 
cute, against  the  ancient  people  of  God.  The  Cru* 
saders  succeeded  ;  and  papal  Rome  regained  what  pa- 
gan Rome  had  first  acquired — even  the  Holy  City  of 
Jerusalem  ! 

'  We  are  now,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  crossing  from 
the  portion  of  Dan  into  that  of  Ephraim.' 

'  Yes,'  added  Da  Costa,  '  and  we  shall  recross  into 
that  of  Dan,  for  a  very  little  space  ;  then  into  the  lot 
of  ^Benjamin,  thence  to  that  of  Judah,  vain  words! 
Dan,  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  Judah — where  are  they  1' 

'Preparing  to  return  and  repossess  the  land  which 
God  gave  to  them  and  to  their  seed  for  ever — for  an 
everlasting  possession,'  exclaimed  Captain  Ryan. 

Charley,  whose  looks  bore  witness  to  the  fervency 
of  his  eagerness  while  listening  to  his  mother,  now 
said,  '  Mamma,  how  came  the  Turks  back  again  1  Did 
theyrdrive  the  Papists  out  V 

'Yes,  my  dear:  Jerusalem,  Antioch,  and  Edessa, 
were  the  only  places  the  Crusaders  could  master. 
Syria,  and  Palestine,  where  we  now  are,  remained  in 
the  hands  of  the  Fatimites,  a  clan  of  Mahommedans  ; 
but  Jerusalem  was  retaken  by  the  Sulian  of  Egypt  in 
1187,  and  after  more  than  a  hundred  years'  fighting 


JUDAH's    LIONi  191 

and  struggling  to  get  it  back  again,  the  armies  of  the 
Pope  were  finally  driven  away  by  the  Turks,  who  have 
kept  it  ever  since.' 

'  And  now,  Charley,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  these  poor 
Turks  have  no  Bible  ;  tlrey  know  not  God's  promises 
to  his  dear  people  Israel,  but  consider  that  in  holding 
possession  of  this  fair  land  they  do  no  more  than  keep 
what  their  fathers  bravely  won  from  men  who  pretend 
to  be  believers  in  the  Holy  Bible,  and  yet  would  as 
soon  persecute  a  Jew  to  death  for  being  a  Jew,  as  they 
would  a  Turk  for  being  a  Turk.  Do  you  wonder,  my 
boy,  that  our  feelings  towards  the  poor  Turks  are  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  the  Romanists,  who  think  it  a 
mark  of  piety  to  hate  them  V 

'  I'll  tell  you  what,  papa,'  cried  Charley,  almost  ris- 
ing out  of  his  snuor  seat  with  the  animation  that  fired 
him.  '  It  was  Popery  itself  taught  me  to  hate  the 
Turks.  When  I  was  little,  you  know  I  did  be  very 
fond  of  Judy  O'Keefe,  down  the  bogside,  down  there 
by' — his  father  interrupted  him.  '  I  remember  it  well, 
Charley,  though  to  be  sure  it  must  be  a  great  while 
since  you  were  little  :  she  used  to  give  you  fresh  eggs, 
and  let  you  play  with  her  young  chickens.  Well, 
what  about  Judy  and  the  Turks  V 

'  Oh,  Papa,  sure  I  went  and  talked  to  Judy  all  about 
the  Jews  and  the  Holy  City  Jerusalem  ;  and  she  said  a 
pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem  would  save  any  soul  ;  and  she 
said  the  bad  wicked  Turks  had  driven  God's  people 
out  of  it,  so  as  they  couldn't  get  in  to  make  pilgrim- 
ages 5  and,  papa,  1  thought  God's  people  meant  the 
Jews,  and  so  I  came  to  hate  the  Turks,  so  I  did.' 

'  No,  no,  my  boy,  the  Turks  never  drove  the  Jews  out, 
though  I  don't  suppose  they  would  be  willing  to  let 
them  in  again  :  but  if  those  whom  poor  Judy  calls 
God's  people  had  possession  of  it,  they  would  proba- 


192  judah's  lion. 

bly  put  to  death  any  son  of  Abraham  who  should  dare 
to  set  foot  in  the  city  of  his  fathers — the  city  of  his 
God.' 

'  This  is  the  way  we  are  all  misled,'  observed  Mrs. 
Ryan.  '  Our  youthful  sympathies  are  enlisted  on  the 
side  of  the  Crusaders,  and  we  receive  from  fthe  ele- 
gant  pages  of  Tasso,  and  from  the  glowing  recitals  of 
history  as  penned  by,  or  copied  from,  the  disciples  of 
Rome,  such  impressions  as  steel  our  hearts  against  a 
people  who  might  be  found  more  accessible  to  the 
truths  of  the  gospel  than  many,  at  far  greater  distance, 
to  whom  we  are  constantly  despatching  Missiona- 
ries.' 

'  Aye,'  rejoined  her  husband,  '  and  there  are  two 
points  in  the  Turkish  character  that  should  yield  us 
special  encouragement ;  first,  they  show  far  more  re* 
spect  to  the  Jew  than  to  the  idolater  who  falsely  bears 
the  name  of  Christian  ;  and  secondly,  they  not  only 
honor  the  name  and  the  law  of  Moses,  hvd  they  do 
actually  at  this  time  look  for  the  coming  of  our  Mes* 
siah,  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  and  believe  that 
he  shall  triumphantly  reign  in  this  very  land,  Jerusa- 
lem beinar  the  chief  seat  of  his  government.  This  I 
have  repeatedly  heard  from  their  own  lips.' 

'  And  is  it  possible,'  asked  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  that  these 
facts  should  be  known,  and  yet  no  attempt  made  to 
improve  such  manifest  advantages  to  the  welfare  of 
their  immortal  souls'? ' 

'  Popery,  my  dear.  Popery  has  a  terrible  account  to 
give  in  this  matter  ;  but  we  too  are  very  guilty.' 

During  this  conversation.  Da  Costa  had  ridden  on 
in  perfect  silence,  after  his  involuntary  interruption  ; 
and  there  was  that  in  his  countenance  which  betoken- 
ed a  train  of  thought  most  absorbingly  interesting. 
He  seemed  to  be  revolving  in  his  mind  something  that 


judah's  lion.  193 

wholly  possessed  it,  evidently  arising  out  of  what  he 
heard.  Alick,  who  had  passed  over  as  a  merely  me- 
chanical process,  such  outlines  of  history  as  his  school- 
education  had  required  him  to  learn  by  rote,  listened 
with  intense  eagerness  to  every  word  spoken  ;  and 
often  did  the  proud  glance,  turned  towards  the  majes- 
tic mountain-summits  of  Judea,  bespeak  his  heartfelt 
conviction  that  let  Turk  or  Christian  enjoy  the  tran- 
sient occupation  of  that  land,  the  true,  the  unalienable 
right  to  its  possession  was  his. 

Charley,  on  whose  dimpled  cheeks  the  crimson  tint 
that  usually  came  and  went  with  every  speech  he  ut- 
tered, had  now  established  itself  in  two  broad,  well- 
defined  and  deepening  spots  of  hectic  character,  was 
very  talkative,  and  made  several  striking  remarks  :  un- 
til Da  Costa,  suddenly  roused  from  his  reverie,  encoun- 
tered the  anxious  eye  of  Captain  Ryan,  and  in  the 
same  adroit  whisper  as  before,  said,  'Keep  him  quiet.' 

This  was  not  easily  done  :  Charley  had  taken  a  sud- 
den interest  in  the  Turks,  as  men  whom  he  had 
wrongfully  despised  and  disliked  ;  and  in  language 
rather  incoherent,  he  was  urging  on  Alick  the  duty  of 
preaching  Christ  to  them  ;  a  subject  that  seemed  sad- 
ly to  embarrass  his  friend.  They  had  pursued  their 
progress  under  a  glowing  sun,  perpetually  delighted 
by  some  new  burst  of  scenery  peculiar  to  the  land, 
when  a  sudden  darkness  overcast  the  sky  ;  and  long 
before  they  could  reach  even  a  place  of  temporary 
shelter,  the  most  penetrating  rain  descended,  setting 
at  naught  their  best  attempts  at  repelling  its  soaking 
power.  Captain  Ryan  bent  over  his  precious  boy, 
who  was  also  covered  with  the  folds  of  his  light,  wa- 
ter-proof cloak ;  but  the  consideration  that  it  was  also 
air-proof  and  therefore  calculated  to  condense  and  de- 
tain, and  most  perniciously  to  return  in  cold  damps 


194-  jtjdah's  lion. 

the  exhalations  of  a  body  so  closely  wrapped  and  in- 
evitably overheated,  distracted  his  mind.  At  times 
he  thought  of  throwing  all  open,  and  exposing  the 
child  to  the  more  genial  rain  of  heaven  ;  but  sleep  had 
overcome  the  little  fellow,  and  he  dared  not  venture 
on  such  an  experiment.  Da  Costa's  looks  of  anxious 
distress  increased  his  uneasy  feelings,  and  secret 
prayer  alone  upheld  his  spirit  in  an  hour  of  no  com» 
mon  trial. 

Alick,  meanwhile,  was  devoting  himself  to  the  task 
of  warding  ofTfrom  Mrs.  Ryan  the  heavy  torrents  that 
fell.  She  was,  like  most  of  her  countrywomen,  a  most 
excellent  equestrian,  and  her  easy  self-possession  was 
of  great  value.  But  the  road  here  became  rugged,  the 
rain  increased,  the  horses  gave  evident  token  of  un- 
willingness to  proceed,  and  their  attendant  owners 
closed  in,  protesting  against  any  perseverance  in  the 
attempt  to  reach  their  destination,  Ramleh,  that  night. 
Captain  Ryan  was  disposed  to  acquiesce,  under  ex- 
treme solicitude  for  Charley,  but  Da  Costa,  knowing 
what  unspeakably  wretched  quarters  they  must  put  up 
with  at  the  proposed  halt,  strenuously  resisted  it. 
High  words  ensued  between  him  and  the  native  guides, 
the  purport  of  which  being  known  only  to  Captain  Ry- 
an, did  not  alarm  him  so  much  as  the  vehement  orien- 
tal gesticulation  of  the  parties  startled  his  companions. 
At  length  the  Syrian  who  had  offended  Charley,  in- 
terposed, strongly  urging  a  halt,  and  giving  Captain 
Ryan  in  an  under  tone  such  cogent  reasons  for  it, 
founded  on  the  very  questionable  character  of  his  com- 
rades, and  accompanied  with  a  promise  of  very  early 
resuming  the  journey,  that  he  deemed  it  better  to  ac- 
quiesce. 

They  dismounted,  therefore,  at  the  spot  selected  by 
their  guides,  and  a  dreary  place  it  was  !  four  low  rug- 


JUDAn's  LION.  196 

ged  walls,  surmounted  by  a  flat  roof  that  admitted  the 
rain  through  a  hundred  fissures,  without  window  or 
chimney,  and  for  a  door  a  shapeless  slab  of  stone, 
formed  the  miserable  dwelling  into  which  the  whole 
party,  including  the  horses  and  their  guides,  pressed 
together ;  taking  up  their  lodging  to  the  best  advan- 
tage they  could  on  the  slippery  floor.  It  was  then 
that  the  graces  of  hospitality  shone  forth  in  those 
lords  of  the  soil  who,  like  their  father  Abraham,  pos- 
sessed not  so  much  of  it  as  would  yield  support  to  the 
sole  of  their  foot.  The  two  Hebrew  gentlemen  at 
once,  and  in  a  way  that  defied  all  opposition,  laid 
hands  on  whatever  could  conduce  to  the  comfort  of 
the  lady  and  her  child  ;  the  young  Syrian  horseman 
heartily  seconded  them  ;  and  though  not  without  some 
grumbling,  and  looks  by  no  means  friendly,  the  others 
yielded  their  slight  saddles  and  bags,  and  whatever 
was  not  saturated  with  the  rain,  to  form  a  sort  of 
couch,  over  which  they  spread  a  large  rug,  which  Da 
Costa,  better  prepared  for  such  sudden  change  of 
weather  and  circumstances,  had  rolled  up  within  an 
oil-skin  covering.  This  being  arranged,  the  next  care 
was  to  provide  somewhat  of  a  table,  on  which  they 
placed  refreshments,  such  as  could  be  produced  on  an 
emergency  so  unlooked  for.  Da  Costa,  while  press- 
ing on  Mrs.  Ryan  a  portion  of  the  little  store,  said,  '  I 
have  no  flocks  whence  to  select  a  kid,  nor  meal  where- 
with to  form  a  cake  ;  but  trust  me,  dear  madam,  when 
it  shall  please  the  Lord  our  God  to  restore  to  us  the 
inheritance  of  our  fathers,  and  to  the  land  her  rich 
fertility,  the  choicest  of  all  we  possess  will  be  in  our 
estimation  a  poor  ofl"ering  to  the  friends  who  have 
sheltered  us  in  the  hour  of  persecution,  sympathized 
in  our  sorrows,  and  are  now  longing  to  rejoice  in  the 
joy  that  will  yet  gladden  the  way-worn  sons  of  Jacob.' 


196  judah's  lion. 

Before  Mrs.  Ryan  could  reply,  an  exclamation  from 
Alick,  who  had  just  taken  Charley  on  his  lap,  ar- 
rested her.  The  boy  had  been  in  a  deep  sleep  for 
some  time  before  their  halt,  nor  had  any  of  the  move- 
ments that  ensued  broken  his  slumber.  Now,  how- 
ever, he  had  opened  his  eyes,  and  their  wild,  blood- 
shot appearance,  as  he  rolled  them  on  surrounding 
objects,  and  finally  fixed  their  vacant  stare  on  Alick's 
face,  without  any  semblance  of  recognition,  had  sur- 
prised the  youth  into  an  interjection  of  alarm.  Cap- 
tain Ryan  had  gone  to  the  farthest  end  of  the  long 
narrow  apartment,  to  make  some  inquiry  of  his  Sy- 
rian friend,  witli  whom  he  was  much  pleased  ;  but 
his  wife's  distressed  accents  caught  his  ear,  which 
Alick's  voice  had  failed  to  attract,  and  he  hastened 
back,  to  find  her  bending  over  the  child,  exclaiming 
in  minoled  terror  and  amazement,  '  Oh,  what  is  this  ! 
What  can  have  happened  to  my  boy !' 

'  Fatigue,  damp,  excitement,'  said  Captain  Ryan, 
as  he  took  the  little  burning  hand  in  his,  '  have  over- 
powered the  poor  babe.  Charley,  vein  of  my  heart  ! 
speak  to  papa,  tell  him  what  ails  you.' 

But  Charley  spoke  not  ;  fever  v/as  on  him  to  an  ex- 
tent that  overpowered  all  consciousness,  and  when 
they  laid  a  finger  on  his  tiny  wrist,  the  throb  of  the 
vein  was  fearful. 

The  father's  heart,  and  the  mother's  heart — who 
shall  declare  their  secret  writhings  under  the  dread 
that  wrung  them!  but  they  were  outwardly  calm  ;  for 
the  peace  of  those  whose  minds  are  stayed  on  the 
Lord  was  there.  Alick,  on  the  contrary,  was  agitated 
beyond  control  :  he  clasped  the  poor  child  to  his  bo- 
som, and  wept  over  him,  exclaiming,  '  0  Charley, 
Charley  !   is  this  your  welcome  to  the  land  of  Israel  V 

'Be  quiet,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa  ;  and  then  in  a 
voice   of  the  most   marked  solemnity,  and   with   an 


JUDAll's  LION.  lf)7 

emphasis    so    evident,  that   it    sent    dismay  into  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers,  he  added,  '  This  is  not  death.' 

The  parents  looked  up  at  him  :  he  stood  with  folded 
arms,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  child,  his  brow  bent,  his 
lips  compressed,  and  feelings,  the  intensity  of  which 
was  the  more  apparent  from  his  usually  delighted  as- 
pect when  gazing  on  that  boy,  worked  in  his  counte- 
nance. Christian  zeal  ever  glows  brighter  when  the 
Refiner  heightens  the  furnace  in  which  he  purifies  his 
■silver  ;  Captain  Ryan  stood  erect,  and  looking  ear- 
nestly at  his  Jewish  friend,  said,  *  And  if  it  be  death, 
what  is  it  but  the  gate  of  life  to  the  babe — the  little 
one  who  believes  in  Christ  as  his  only,  hisall-sufScient 
Savior  1' 

No  notice  was  taken  of  this  :  Da  Costa  laid  his 
hand  on  the  broad  little  forehead,  and  said,  'I  know 
ihese  symptoms  well :  he  is  delirious,  and  it  may  be- 
come more  palpable  5  but  be  calm,  and  avoid  exciting 
him  in  any  way.  In  our  present  circumstances,  sleep 
is  the  only  medicine  within  our  reach.  To-morrow 
we  shall,  by  a  comparatively  short  and  easy  journej^, 
reach  Ramleh, — our  ancient  Ramah.' 

It  was  now  that,  for  the  first  time,  Mrs.  Ryan's  for- 
titude gave  way  5  she  had  taken  the  boy  in  her  arms, 
and  her  tears  burst  over  his  insensible  form  as  she 
sobbed  out,  '  Oh,  not  to  Ramah  !' 

*  Why  not  to  Ramah  V  asked  Da  Costa  :  '  there  is 
no  nearer  place  on  our  route  for  what  you  require.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  shook  her  head  ;  her  tears  fell  faster 
than  ever  over  the  little  suflerer ;  and  Alick,  drawing 
his  friend  aside,  repeated  to  him  in  accents  that  trem- 
bled with  emotion,  the  words  of  the  Prophet  Jeremiah, 
'  A  voice  was  heard  in  Ramah,  lamentation  and  bitter 
weeping;  Rachel  weeping  for  her  children,  refused 
to  be  comforted  for  her  children,  because  they  were 
not.' 

18 


CHAPTER    XV. 


The  first  day's  journey,  leisurely  as  it  had  been,  and  ab- 
ruptly terminated,  brought  our  travellers  over  a  much 
less  space  of  ground  than  they  had  supposed  ,•  and  its 
general  character  of  tranquil  beauty,  fragrance,  and  unob- 
structed smoothness,  would  have  ill  prepared  them  for 
what  was  to  follow ;  but  Da  Costa  forewarned  them  of 
the  change  that  would  take  place  soon  after  leaving  Ra- 
mah,  and  urged  their  continuance  at  that  station  until  the 
issue  of  the  little  boy's  illness  should  be  known.  Captain 
Ryan  was  disposed  to  acquiesce  ;  but  his  wdfe,  though  she 
offered  no  opposition  to  their  plans,  evidently  shrank  from 
the  arrangement;  and,  while  he  almost  marvelled  at  the 
unv/onted  weakness  of  a  mind,  the  strength  of  which  had 
often  proved  a  support  to  his  ovA^n,  he  could  not  press  the 
point.  He  ended  the  conference  by  saying,  'Let  all 
these  thoughts  for  the  morrow  be  abandoned :  to  Ramleh 
we  must  necessarily  proceed  :  but  our  farther  course  may 
be  left  to  a  higher  wisdom  than  ours.  If  I  could  see  you 
composed  to  sleep,  Ellen,  it  would  lighten  my  present 
anxiety  not  a  little  :  be  persuaded  to  lie  down,  and  leave 
the  boy  to  us.' 

'  Do,  dear  Mrs.  Ryan,'  said  Alick  ;  '  I  will  promise,  aye 
swear,  not  to  take  my  eyes  off  his  darling  face  till  you 


judah's  lion.  199 

wake,  if  you  will  only  get  a  little  rest  after  all  this  trying 
work.' 

'And  I,'  said  Da  Costa,  '  will  hold  his  hand  in  mine; 
and  if  even  an  unsatisfactory  movement  of  the  pulse  takes 
place,  you  shall  be  roused.  Trust  him  to  us :  or  rather,' 
he  added  in  a  voice  unusually  sweet  and  solemn,  '  leave 
him  to  the  Watchman  of  Israel,  who  never  slumbers;  the 
Shepherd  who  carries  the  lambs  in  his  bosom.' 

She  lifted  her  eyes  to  their  faces,  and  exclaimed,  '  0 
kind,  generous  sons  of  Abraham,  would  that  you  were 
under  the  guardianship  of  that  Watchman — gathered  into 
the  fold  of  that  Shepherd!' 

'  So  we  are,'  replied  Alick. 

'  Not  in  the  sense  she  means,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 
'  Christians  apply  the  title  differently  from  us  :  but  apply 
them  how  you  will,  dear  madam,  so  that  they  relieve 
your  mind  from  its  present  over-weight.'  He  then  added, 
'Believe  me,  you  will  need  to  have  all  your  powers,  bodily 
and  mental,  unimpaired  to  meet  the  difficulties  that  lie  in 
our  onward  path.' 

'  I  know  it  5  but  I  am  not  fatigued,  nor  drowsy,  nor  in 
any  need  of  rest.  I  only  want  a  cordial  to  refresh  my 
spirit.' 

'  Well,  give  me  your  Bible,  Ryan,'  said  the  Jew,  with 
unruffled  countenance  ;  and  opening  at  the  book  of  Jere- 
miah, he  proceeded :  '  You  seem  to  have  some  painful 
thoughts  connected  with  this  town  of  Ramleh,  and  I  must 
claim  the  exercise  of  your  sympathy  in  our  destinies  to 
remove  those  thoughts.  Few  passages  are  more  pregnant 
with  delightful  hope  than  this :  he  then  read,  beginning 
with  the  verse  that  Alick  had  quoted,  and  proceeding 
without  a  pause,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Refrain  thy  voice 
from  weeping,  and  thine  eyes  from  tears  ;  for  thy  work 
shall  be  rewarded,  saith  the  Lord ;  and  they  shall  come 
again  from  the  land  of  the  enemy.     And  there  is  hope  in 


200  judah's  lion. 

thine  end,  saith  the  Lord,  that  thy  children  shall  come 
again  to  their  own  border."  So,  you  see,  the  weeping 
of  Rachel, however  bitter,  is  not  a  hopeless  weeping:  the 
tribes,  her  scattered  children,  for  whom  she  laments  as 
though  they  were  not,  shall  be  gathered  again :  for  listen, 
a  little  farther  on  the  prophet  says,  "Thus  saith  theLord 
of  Hosts,  the  God  of  Israel.  As  yet  they  shall  use  this 
speech  in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  in  the  cities  thereof, 
when  I  shall  bring  again  the  captivity.  The  Lord  bless 
thee,  O  habitation  of  justice  and  mounta'n  of  holiness. 
And  there  shall  dwell  in  Judah  itself,  and  in  all  the  cities 
thereof  together,  husbandmen,  and  they  that  go  forth  with 
flocks :  for  I  have  satiated  the  weary  soul,  and  I  have  re- 
plenished every  sorrowful  soul.  Upon  this  I  awaked  and 
beheld,  and  my  sleep  was  sweet  unto  me."  What  possi- 
ble interpretation  can  you  put  upon  this,  to  deprive  it  of 
its  literal,  obvious  meaning  V 

'  None,'  answered  Captain  Ryan :  '  to  Israel  the  pro- 
mise undoubtedly  belongs,  and  it  breathes  the  rich  strain 
of  assurance  to  them  as  a  nation,  to  deny  or  explain  away 
which  I  should  deem  a  sacrilegious  offence  ;  to  you  be- 
longs the  word  of  encouragement  telling  you  that  the 
Lord  hath  not  finally  cast  off  his  people,  nor  forgotten- 
that  his  covenant  was  made  with  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob, 
and  their  seed  for  ever,  and  that  it  includes  also  the  pos- 
session of  this  land,  which  He  gave  unto  them.  But  my 
dear  friend,  we  poor  Gentiles,  believing  that  the  Lord  is 
nigh  unto  all  that  call  upon  him,  without  respect  of 
persons,  where  spiritual  blessings  are  concerned  ;  believ- 
ing the  word  of  your  prophets  also,  who  repeatedly  testify 
of  the  participation  promised  to  us  in  those  everlasting 
mercies  which  pertain  to  a  heavenly  inheritance— we,  too, 
find  a  word  of  comfort  addressed  to  our  souls  in  the  pas- 
sage you  have  been  reading.  The  first  part,  the  lamenta- 
tion of  Rachel  for  her  children' ~ 


jiTdah's  lion.  201 

'  t  know  how  you  apply  that,'  internipted  Da  Costa. 
'  The  slaugliter  of  infants  in  Bethlehem,  by  that  sanguin- 
ary, usurping  despot,  Herod,  is  related  with  a  quotation 
from  it.  Letting  that  pass,  to  what  possible  use  can  you 
turn  the  rest  V 

'  To  me,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  it  speaks  of  the  resurrection 
of  the  body,  it  comforts  the  weeping  mother  with  the  as- 
sured hope  of  a  re-union  with  her  lost  children  in  the 
day  of  that  first,  glorious  resurrection,  when  all  who  are 
the  Lord's  shall  rise  to  meet  him  at  his  coming.' 

Da  Costa  had  an  answer  ready  :  but  he  glanced  at  the 
child,  at  the  pale,  anxious  face  of  the  fond  mother,  and 
feeling  that  he  could  not  then  combat  her  inferences,  he 
closed  the  book,  saying,  '  Well,  my  dear  madam,  I  rejoice 
that  the  cordial  for  which  you  wished  has  been  supplied: 
in  truth,  it  is  large  enough  to  admit  of  our  sharing  it.' 
He  spoke  smilingly,  and  from  courtesy  rather  than  con- 
viction ;  but  Alick  had  been  struck,  as  though  he  had 
never  before  heard  of  sach  a  thing,  with  the  beautiful  ar- 
rangement of  God's  word,  by  which  both  Jew  and  Gen- 
tile might  appropriate  spiritually  that  which,  in  its  pri- 
mary literal  sense,  belongs  to  the  former  ;  and  thence  he 
was  led  to  ponder  the  question  whether  such  spiritual  in- 
terpretation was  not  equally  needful  to  both.  '  This  goodly 
land,'  thought  he,  'may  be  but  the  type  of  a  better ;  and 
God's  faithfulness  in  reserving  it  to  us  may  be  the  appointed 
pledge  of  his  bringing  us  into  his  own  kingdom  at  last. 
They  say  Moses  was  a  type  of  Christ,  and  our  sacrifices 
were  types  of  his  offering  himself  up  for  us.  If  so,  how 
extensive  the  blessing!  I  don't  see  but  that  a  Jewish 
mother  would  take  comfort  in  such  a  passage,  so  explain- 
ed ;  and  it  does  not  interfere  with  our  national  rights — 
but  rather  establishes  them.  I  should  like  to  understand 
all  this!'  He  remained  in  deep  thought,  and  the  light 
that  gradually  broke  on  his  soul  was  most  cheering. 
18* 


202  judah's  lion. 

Meanwhile  Captain  Ryan  called  his  friend  aside,  and 
demanded  of  him  his  honest  opinion  respecting  Charley. 
Da  Costa,  with  some  reluctance,  answered  that,  shortly 
before  their  arrival,  he  had  witnessed  some  cases  of  a  most 
severe  ftver  among  children,  too  often  fatal,  and  which 
appeared  to  be  also  contagious  ;  that  he  had  seen  Charley 
in  the  Bazaar,  standing  close  beside  a  little  Armenian  boy, 
two  of  whose  family  had  died  of  it,  and  who  himself  had 
but  recently  risen  from  the  same  bed  of  sickness  :  that  he 
had  snatched  Charley  away,  and  having  every  hope  of  his 
escaping  any  danger,  he  had  refrained  from  alarming  them 
by  mentioning  it,  but  had  watched  him  most  anxiously  for 
a  day  or  two.  '  My  mind  was  then  quite  at  ease,'  he  con- 
cluded, '  until  this  day,  when  the  symptoms  that  appeared 
struck  me  at  once  as  being:  identical  with  those  I  have 
witnessed  in  Jaffa.' 

'  And  how  long  does  this  disease  usually  last,  prepara- 
tory to  a  fatal  termination.' 

'  I  cannot  speak  with  any  certainty  to  that  point ;  I 
have  seen  it  go  on  for  a  week ;  I  have  seen  it  end  sooner. 
But  why  talk  of  a  fatal  issue  1  I  cannot  bear  to  anticipate 
that,  how  then  can  you  V 

'  By  firmly  believing,  my  dear  Da  Costa,  that  the  good 
Shepherd,  even  Jesus,  the  Messiah  of  Israel,  will  carry 
this  poor  Gentile  lamb  in  his  tender  bosom  to  the  green 
pastures  of  his  heavenly  fold.' 

Da  Costa  turned  awaj'-,  but  not  in  unkindness.  Ryan 
called  him  back  ;  '  Tell  me,  will  his  reason  return  V 

'  Oh  yes;  a  little  delirium  at  the  outset,  with  occa- 
sional wanderings  under  the  paroxysms  of  fever,  is  all 
that  I  have  seen  in  these  cases.  His  irritation  concern- 
ing the  Turks,  and  his  hurried  loquacitj'  afterwards,  gave 
me  the  alarm  ;  but  remember  I  may  be  mistaken.  I 
know  just  enough  of  medicine  to  make  me  nervous  about 
those  I  love  ;  hardly  enough  to  do  them  any  good.' 


judah's  lion.  203 

•  At  RatTileh,  what  quarters  shall  we  find  V 
'  None  so  suitable  as  the  convent.' 

*  None  that  I  would  not  sooner  occupy !'  exclaimed 
Ryan. 

The  lapse  of  a  few  troubled  hours  saw  the  cavalcade 
again  ready  :  the  weather  had  become  more  favorable, 
and  again  they  set  out  under  a  brightening  sky,  Charley 
being  placed  within  an  ample  pannier,  balanced  by  some 
articles  belonging  to  the  baggage,  and  slung  across  the 
back  of  a  stout  mule,  whose  even,  easy  pace,,  had  been  re- 
marked on  the  preceding  day.  The  boy  appeared  perfectly 
conscious,  but  under  some  oppression  that  deterred  him 
from  speaking.  His  father  led  the  animal,  walking  beside 
him,  and  the  two  Hebrews  alternately  dismounted  to 
steady  the  pannier,  while  the  other  rode  beside  Mrs. 
Ryan. 

They  had  proceeded  thus  for  a  little  way,  when  Char- 
ley spoke.  '  What  a  nice  warm  sunshine,  and  a  sweet 
$mell !     Where  am  I  now  V 

'  In  the  Holy  Land,  my  boy,'  answered  his  father,  '  we 
are  crossing  the  plains  near  Ramah,  and  very  rich  is  the 
fragrance  of  the  glowing  flowers  that  surround  us,  drawn 
forth  by  the  sun's  rays  after  the  rains  of  yesterdaj'.  It  is 
a  goodly  land,  Charles,  and  looking  about  me  now,  1  can 
call  it  the  glory  of  all  lands  ;  for  if  such  it  be  in  desola- 
tion and  neglect,  what  would  it  be  under  the  culture  of 
its  own  tribes!' 

'  Papa,  I  should  like  to  look  about  me  ;  but  somebody 
has  fastened  my  head  down — I  can't  lift  it.' 

Da  Costa,  who  kept  out  of  his  sight,  but  intently  watch- 
ed him,  shrank  back  at  hearing  these  words.  His  gesture 
was  noticed  by  Captain  Ryan,  who  felt  its  import. 

The  child  remained  silent  and  quiet  ;  the  fever  was 
abated,  and  a  dreamy  stillness  seemed  to  hang  about  him, 
as  he  lay,  smiling  occasionally  to  himself  in  his  narrow 


204        '  judah's  liox. 

basket.  After  a  while,  Alick  assumed  Da  Costa's  post, 
and,  unable  to  keep  back  as  he  had  done,  peeped  into  the 
pannier.  Charley  was  then  seemingly  asleep,  but  in  a 
few  seconds  he  opened  his  eyes,  though  without  appear- 
ing to  take  notice  of  anything  about  him,  and  almost 
laughed.  Alick  bent  his  head  lower,  and  in  a  soft  whis- 
per asked,  '  Is  my  little  darling  comfortable  V 

In  a  moment  the  boy's  look  was  turned  on  him ;  it  was 
bright  but  unsteady  ;  and  he  answered  in  the  same  low 
tone,  '  Mr.  Alick,  you  don't  know  how  beautiful,  how 
beautiful' — there  he  paused. 

'  Is  it  the  land,  Charley  1  the  fair  land  that  God  gave  to 
my  father  Abraham  1  but  no,  you  can't  see  it,  lying  down. 
Or  is  it  the  sunshine  out  of  that  deep  blue  sky?  Oh, 
Charley,  'tis  a  glorious  sky  that  God  has  spread  over  my 
own  land.     You  can  see  that,  dear"?' 

'Yes,  but  it  isn't  that.  The  beautiful  things,  Mr. 
Alick,  are  in  my  mind,  somehow,  but  I  don't  know  where 
they  come  from  V 

'  From  God,  Charley  :  or  perhaps' — he  bent  his  face  to 
the  child's  and  whispered  as  low  as  if  he  feared  the  sound 
of  his  own  breath,  '  perhaps  from  Jesus  Christ :  He's 
your  God,  you  know  ;  but   not  mine,  not  exactly,  not' — 

Charley  interrupted  him,  with  the  quick,  abrupt  speech 
peculiar  to  him  when  roused,  '  If  he's  anybody's  God, 
then  he's  everybody's  God :  he  is  your  God,  Mr.  Alick, 
I  tell  you  He  is.' 

'  Hush,  darling,  hush  !  "Well,  at  any  rate,  this  is  Pales- 
tine, this  is  the  Holy  Land.' 

'  And  Jesus  Christ  is  its  King  j  and  he  is  the  Bling  of 
the  Jews,'  said  Charley. 

'  You  are  sick  now,  my  little  love,  and  must  not  be 
contradicted.' 

'  Yes,  I  may  be  contradicted,  but  God  mustn't  be 
contradicted ;  and  He  says,  "  Yet  have  I  set  my  King 


judah's  lion.  205 

upoa  my  holy  hill  ofZlon."  I  tell  you  what,  if  you 
don't  kiss  the  Son,  you'll  be  broken  in  bits  like  a  potter's 
vessel.' 

This  was  spoken  so  loud,  the  voice  caught  his  mother's 
ear,  and  in  a  moment  her  horse  was  close  on  the  heels  of 
the  steady  old  mule,  and  her  neck  eagerly  stretched  out, 
till  Charley  caught  a  glimpse  of  her  face,  and  cried  out, 
'  Mamma,  my  mind  is  full  of  beautiful  things.' 

Before  she  could  well  answer,  he  had  relapsed  into  his 
slumbering  state  ;  and  Da  Costa  forbade  any  attempt  to 
rouse  him.  Alick  walked  on,  silent,  and  more  deeply 
than  ever  pondering  the  one  thing  that  occupied  his 
thoughts.  Captain  Ryan's  quick  ear  had  caught  all  the 
dialogue  except  Allck's  mysterious  whisper ;  and  the  pur- 
port of  that  was  easy  to  ascertain  from  what  preceded 
and  followed  it.  His  heart  was  wrung  by  the  anticipation 
of  losing  this  precious  boy,  but  its  language  was,  "  The 
will  of  the  Lord  be  done  !"  and  again  he  thought  over  the 
child's  ardent  desire  to  be  a  Missionary  to  Israel :  and  re- 
joiced in  its  evident  gratification. 

Thus  they  passed  on,  and  before  mid-day  they  had  en- 
tered Ramah.  The  best  accommodations  to  be  found 
were  pitiable,  compared  with  their  need  ;  but  so  long  as 
little  Charley  could  be  undressed  and  placed  in  a  snug 
bed,  his  friends  were  satisfied.  He  remained  quiet,  and 
Mrs.  Ryan  being  also  persuaded  to  take  some  repose  be- 
side him,  the  three  gentlemen  sallied  into  the  town,  in 
quest  of  what  there  was  little  hope  of  obtaining — compe- 
tent medical  advice.  To  the  Franciscan  Convent  they 
went,  being  told  that  a  Doctor  was  there,  a  Frank  ;  but 
the  monk  who  answered  their  call,  said  he  had  left  the 
place  two  days  before;  having  only  been  a  transient 
guest.  '  He  gave  advice  and  medicine,'  added  he  ;  '  but 
we  saw  it  was  only  done  to  make  way  for  his  Bibles, 
which  he  scattered  about,  and  gave  us  no  little  trouble  in 


206  judah's  lion. 

collecting  them  to' — here  he  stopped,  as  if  afraid  of  going 
too  far. 

'  To  burn,  I  suppose,'  said  Captain  Ryan. 

*  The  books  contained  nothing  that  could  concern  us  ; 
we  live  in  a  mixed  population,  each  following  his  own 
way,  according  as  he  was  brought  up.' 

'  But  if  none  of  those  ways  should  happen  to  be  the 
right  way,  and  a  person  comes  to  point  it  out  to  you  all, 
it  seems  to  me  that  instead  of  concerning  nobody,  it  does, 
in  an  especial  manner,  concern  everybody.' 

The  monk's  brow  contracted  ;  'As  to  the  right  way,'' 
said  he,  '  we  know  very  well  there  is  but  one,  and  that  is 
the  way  the  Catholic  Church  appoints.' 

'  I  should  rather  say,'  remarked  Captain  Ryan,  *  that 
the  Church  instead  of  choosing  her  own  way  is  bound  to 
walk  in  that  which  God  has  marked  out.' 

But  the  monk  had  no  talent,  or  no  taste  for  confro- 
vers}'- ;  with  the  same  unmoved  look,  and  in  the  same 
inonotonous  tone,  he  repeated  his  former  words,  which 
were  evidently  spoken  by  rote.  Alick  observed,  '  If 
what  your  church  says  be  true,  it  must  agree  with  what  is 
in  the  Bible,  and  therefore  I  don't  see  why  you  should 
object  to  it.' 

The  monk  lifted  his  sleepy  eyes  to  the  youth's  face, 
and  again  dropped  them,  muttering  something  that  sound- 
ed like  a  repetition  of  his  former  words. 

Da  Costa  had  been  glancing  round  the  room  with  an 
aspect  of  restless  impatience  and  half-suppressed  irritation  ; 
he  now  spoke,  and  his  voice  rang  through  the  little,  low- 
roofed  apartment,  with  electrifying  power.  '  We,  who 
are  Jews,  rejecting  as  we  do  the  whole  S3'stem  of  Chris- 
tianity, appeal  to  the  Scriptures  as  our  warrant  for  such 
rejection.  You,  who  have  added  to  God's  word  what- 
ever you  deem  necessary  to  authenticate  your  creed,  dare 


JUDAU'S    LION.  207 

not,  it  seem?,  bring  your  religion  to  the  touchstone  of 
your  own  New  Testament.     How  is  this  V 

The  monk  stared  with  a  mixture  of  angry  astonishment 
and  alarm,  as  Da  Costa  stood,  proudly  facing  him,  with 
such  a  look  of  undisguised  scorn  and  defiance,  that  Cap- 
tain Ryan  was  inclined  to  whisper  a  caution,  but  forbore. 
The  word  Jews  had  been  so  spoken  as  to  reach  the  ears 
of  some  dosing  members  of  the  brotherhood  in  an  adjoin- 
ing room ;  and  faces  were  seen  peeping  with  no  very 
friendly  expression,  through  the  intervening  doorway. 
Meanwhile  the  monk  commenced  crossing  himself,  and 
muttering  prayers,  after  which  he  dipped  his  fingers  into 
a  bowl  that  stood  near,  and  sprinkled  the  water  between 
himself  and  the  intruder. 

*  Exorcise  as  you  may,'  resumed  the  Jew,  *  you  will 
not  succeed  in  laying  thej  troublesome  spirit.  Perse- 
cute as  you  can,  bely,  calumniate,  torture  and  massacre 
to  the  extent  of  your  power,  it  will  not  avail.  The  Jew, 
the  hated  Jew,  will  overmaster  you  yet;  here,  on  the 
land  of  his  fathers,  he  will  plant  his  foot ;  and  from  sea  to 
sea  shall  no  place  be  found  to  shelter  the  desolating 
abomination  that  now  defiles  it.' 

*  Are  you  not  going  too  far  V  whispered  Captain  Ryan. 

'  No ;'  he  replied  in  English,'  I  am  protected  by  an  au- 
thority to  which  they  must  bow,  or  I  should  long  since 
have  followed  the  fate  of  one  whom  they  sacrificed,  not 
here,  but  in  the  mountains  whence  this  goodly  scion  was 
transplanted ;  and  where,  after  this  meeting  with  me,  he 
will  speedily  return.  At  this  moment  some  infernal  plot 
is  ripening  at  Damascus,  and  he  is  cognizant  of  it.' 

By  this  tijTie  the  superior  had  been  summoned  ;  who, 
approaching  with  more  courtesy  than  might  have  been 
expected,  asked  their  business  at  the  convent.  He  was 
told;  and  immediately  said  he  would  send  a  brother  who 
was  skilled  in  such  cases,  and  who  should  be  at  their  quar- 


"208  jitdah's  lion. 

ters  nearly  as  soon  as  themselves.  He  then  politely  bade 
them  farewell,  and  watched  until  they  quitted  the  convent 
door. 

'  Now,  forgive  me,  Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa,  *  for  I  cer- 
tainly placed  you  in  an  unpleasant  position  ;  but  hear 
my  tale,  briefly  told.  You  know  the  hateful  charge 
brought  against  us  by  these  lying  monks,  and  entertained 
more  or  less  throughout  the  various  classes  who  usurp  our 
land.' 

'What  charger  asked  Alick. 

Da  Costa  looked  at  him  with  surprise  ;  Ihen  said,  speak- 
ing with  bitter  emphasis,  '  The  charge  of  blood  ;  they  say 
that  we,  the  seed  of  Abraham,  knead  our  passover  bread 
with  Christian  blood ;  to  procure  which,  we  inveigle 
and  murder  them.     That's  the  charo-e.  Cohen-' 

'  And  never  since  Satan  began  his  career  as  the  father 
of  lies,  did  he  produce  a  lie  more  diabolical  than  that,' 
exclaimed  Captain  Ryan,  whose  cheek  burned  with  in- 
dignation and  shame.  'Never  did  his  infernal  craft 
invent  a  more  detestable  calumny,  to  stain  alike  the 
Jewish  and  the  Christian  name.  Against  you,  the  follow- 
ers of  Moses,  he  lays  an  accusation  Involving  guilt  so 
complicated  that  its  very  atrocity  is  almost  inconceivable  ; 
and  against  us,  the  followers  of  Christ,  he  commits  an 
almost  equal  outrage,  by  inciting  its  wretched  propagators 
to  call  themselves  Christians,  as  thouoh  we,  who  from  the 
innermost  recesses  of  our  souls  fling  off  all  participation 
in  the  slanderous  crime,  \^^ere  among  its  abettors.' 

'I  know  that  very  well,'  said  Da  Costa,  warmly  :  '  but 
to  proceed  with  my  explanation :  I  brought  out  with  me 
some  few  years  ago,  a  young  German  friend  and  co-re- 
ligionist of  my  own,  aa  noble  a  fellow  as  ever  breathed. 
We  were  strolling  through  the  land,  and  reached,  among 
the  mountains  northward  of  the  Holy  City,  one  of  those 
aests  of  monkery  which  defile  our  country  far  more  thaa 


judah's  lion.  209 

do  the  Mosques  of  the  Moslem.  The  weather  compelled 
us  to  rest  here  for  a  season,  and  we  were  treated  civilly 
enough,  until  on  declining  to  partake  of  some  dainty  in 
which  the  blood  of  the  animal  was  distinctly  named  as  a 
chief  ingredient,  they  taxed  us,  aye,  taxed  us  with  being 
Israelites.' 

'  Had  you  tried  to  conceal  it  V  asked  Alick. 

'Not  we.  Our  aspect  was  wan  ant  enough  for  our 
being  of  the  race ;  and  no  thought  of  disguise  ever  en- 
tered our  heads.  When  the  rude  challenge  was  given, 
of  being  concealed  Jews,  we  loudly  and  proudly  avowed 
our  lineage,  and  repudiated  the  idea  of  concealment. 
They  then  scofTed  at  our  scruples,  again  pressing  us  to  eat 
of  the  prohibited  viand  ;  and  when  we  protested  against 
being  thought  capable  of  such  hypocrisy,  they  hurled  in 
our  teeth  the  infamous  reproaches  alluded  to.' 

'And  I  hope  you  hurled  your  plate  in  theirs,'  said 
Alick. 

'  Not  exactly  ;  but  we  were  much  exasperated  and  the 
altercation  ran  so  high,  that  my  companion,  who  was  as 
well  ver-ed  in  your  scriptures  as  in  our  own,  just  drew 
them  a  picture  of  what  they  ought  to  be,  according  to 
those  books ;  and  of  what  they  are,  as  the  most  flagrant 
idolators  extant ;  in  language  that  the  chief  monk  pre- 
tended to  regard  as  betokening  a  disposition  to  do 
violence  to  some  of  their  wooden  or  crockery  gods ; 
and  thrust  us  both,  by  dint  of  overpowering  numbers, 
into  a  dark  noisome  place,  for  the  night.  It  would 
have  fared  ill  with  us  ;  but  I  gave  them  to  know  that  any 
outrage  perpetrated  on  us  would  be  taken  up  at  once  by 
the  English  consul-general,  whose  word  was,  at  that  junc- 
ture, law  with  the  Turk,  and  who  would  visit  on  their 
system  the  wrong  done  to  his  countryman  and  friend, 
I  menaced  them  on  the  score  of  false  imprisonment  also  ; 
and  we  were  set  free,  but  dodged  from  mountain  to  plain^ 
19 


210  judah's  lion. 

and  never  believing  we  should  regain  our  homes  alive,. 
Among  the  fraternity  was  that  fellow  whom  we  have  just 
seen. 

'  I  should  have  told  you  that,  in  the  heat  of  their  re- 
vilings,  they  not  only  avowed  but  gloried  in  the  persecu- 
tions and  massacres  of  their  church ;  and  declared  the 
destruction  of  a  Jew  to  be  as  acceptable  in  the  sight  of 
God  as  any  religious  service  whatever :  this  they  would 
afterwards  have  retracted,  but  we  could  not  allow  of  it  ; 
and  perhaps  poor  Wilhelm's  pertinacity  on  this  point 
sealed  his  doom  j  for  he  vowed  to  publish  it,  on  his  return 
to  Europe,  as  the  declaration  of  men  who  claimed  infal- 
libility of  judgment.  Not  long  after  this,  we  were 
obliged  to  separate  for  a  short  space,  each  accompanied 
by  two  or  three  Arab  guides,  whose  hatred  of  the  Franks 
seemed  a  fair  preservative  against  treachery.  I  reached 
at  the  appointed  time  the  place  of  rendezvous,  but  of 
Wilhelm  or  his  conductors  no  trace  could  ever  be  gained, 
nor  did  I,  from  that  time  forward,  detect  a  vestige  of  the 
dodging  s^'stem  that  had  been  practised  thitherto.' 

'But  surely,'  said  Alick,  'you  did  not  let  the  matter 
rest  there  V 

'Did  n  At  the  head  of  a  party  of  stout  fellows,  I 
ransacked  their  den  from  top  to  bottom,  and  left  it  stand- 
ing only  because  there  was  a  possibility  that  in  some  un* 
discoverable  recess  my  poor  friend  might  be  secreted, 
and  buried  beneath  the  ruins.  In  this  exploit  I  did  not  so 
appear  as  to  be  recognized  :  an  Arab  Shiekh  supplied  what 
seemed  to  be  a  party  of  marauders,  and  I  disguised  myself, 
as  I  think,  perfectly:  but,  when  afterwards  I  related,  con- 
fidentially, this  part  of  the  business  to  the  only  individual 
through  whom  public  justice  could  be  obtained,  he  con- 
sidered my  proceeding  as  calculated,  if  discovered,  to 
compromise  the  English  interests  in  Syria  ;  and  I  know 
too  well  the  value,  to  my  own  people,  of  the  present  high 


judah's  lion.  211 

standing  of  Great  Britain  in  the  East,  to  do  that.  No,  I 
am  resolved  never  to  relinquish  the  search  till  some  clue 
be  obtained  of  Wilhelm  :  but  having,  somewhat  too  pre- 
cipitately, taken  justice  into  my  own  hands,  I  must  follow 
it  out  at  my  proper  hazard.' 

They  had  now  reached  the  dark,  dungeon-like  house 
where  the  sick  child  lay,  and  even  the  stirring  interest  of 
Da  Costa's  story  was  lost  in  solicitude  for  him.  They 
found  him  awake,  and  restless  ;  putting  frequent  questions 
to  his  mother,  in  a  rambling,  but  very  earnest  way  ;  while 
her  looks  told  how  deep  was  the  trial,  how  submissive  the 
spirit  in  which  it  was  borne. 

When  the  gentlemen  approached,  Charley  cried  out, 
'  Papa,  this  is  Ramah  ;  Rachel  lived  here  ;  but  this  is  not 
Bethlehem,  and  the  children  were  killed  in  Bethlehem.' 

'  And  in  all  the  coasts  thereof,'  answered  his  father. 

'  Ah,  I  forgot  the  coasts :  it's  all  true,  so  it  is  :  so  it  is,' 
he  murmured ;  and  Captain  Ryan  marvelled  if  his  little 
one  had  been  tempted  to  unbelief  at  such  a  moment. 
Charley  soon  resumed,  '  They  were  all  Jew  babies,  Papa, 
•were  they  not  V 

'  No  doubt,  my  dear  boy  ;  and  you  know  that,  like 
cruel  Hercfd,  cruel  Pharaoh  ordered  all  the  Jew  babes  to 
be  slain,  at  least,  all  the  males.' 

'Ah,  but  Moses  escaped,  and  Jesus  escaped ;  and  he  is 
the  prophet  like  Moses,  so  he  is.' 

A  short  silence  ensued,  which  was  broken  by  the  en- 
trance of  a  monk,  on  whom  Charley  fixed  his  eyes  v/ith 
wonder.  The  Hebrew  friends  drew  back  a  little,  to  allow 
of  his  approach.  He  examined  the  child,  put  a  few  ques- 
tions to  Captain  Ryan,  and  shook  his  head. 

'  Are  you  a  doctor  V  Charles  asked. 

'  There  is  no  doctor,  my  love,  in  the  place,'  said  his 
mother :  '  this  is  a  kind  priest  who  comes  to  see  you.' 

'  I  want  a  doctor,  but  I  don't  want  a  priest,  I  won't  have 


212  judah's  lion. 

the  priest,'  he  added  loudly,  as  the  recollection  of  some 
scene  in  Ireland  came  over  his  confused  mind. 

The  monk,  who  seemed  a  mild,  compassionate  man, 
touched  by  the  child's  distressful  tone,  though  he  knew 
not  the  words  spoken,  drew  nearer,  and  taking  from  the 
folds  of  his  robe  a  small  crucifix,  held  it  before  him.  This 
excited  Charley  to  a  great  pitch  :  his  face  became  flushed, 
and  he  cried  out  in  a  more  piercing  tone,  'I  won't  have 
it,  that  idol;  Papa,  take  me  away— Mr.  Dockster,  I  say, 
take  away  the  idol.' 

The  Jew's  heart  bounded  to  the  appeal,  and  while  Cap- 
tain Ryan  was  courteously  but  earnestly  explaining  and 
justifying  to  the  monk  his  little  boy's  entreaty.  Da  Costa 
advanced,  intending  by  stooping  over  the  child  to  inter- 
pose between  him  and  the  object  of  his  distress ;  but  it 
was  needless — on  his  approach  the  monk  hurried  the  sym- 
bol back  into  his  bosom,  and  retreated. 

This  was  a  painful  moment  to  the  protesting  Christians  : 
they  felt  that  while  only  partaking  in  the  Jew's  horror  of 
idolatry,  they  incurred  the  reproach  of  seeming  to  acqui- 
esce in  his  unbelieving  contempt  of  what  that  idol  as- 
sumed to  represent — a  reality  far,  far  dearer  to  them  than 
their  life-blood.  But  it  is  a  small  matter  to  be  judged  of 
man's  judgment,  where  we  know  that  he  who  truly  judg- 
eth  and  shall  judge  is  the  Lord  ;  and  condemned  as  they 
felt  themselves  to  be  of  both  the  unbelieving  Israelite  and 
the  Papist,  both  had  their  hearts'  prayer,  both  their  love  ; 
though  it  cannot  but  be  that  to  them  the  true  Christian's 
affection  must  ever  most  fondly  turn,  and  over  them  must 
he  yearn  with  the  tenderest  solicitude,  who  preserved  for 
him,  and  gave  to  him  the  precious  Bible,  which  alone 
enables  him  to  detect  all  error,  and  to  discern  all  truth. 

The  monk  shortly  departed,  and  had  at  the  door  a  short 
low  conversation  with  Captain  Ryan,  who  returned  with  a 
saddened  look,  and  folding  his  arms,  stood  gazing  intently 


JUDAU'S    LION.  213 

on  his  child.  Charley,  ^vho  had  been  quiet  for  sometime, 
looked  up  in  his  face,  and  calmly  asked  him,  'Papa,  did 
that  man  say  I  am  going  to  die  1' 

At  once  every  eye  was  turned  on  the  agitated  father  ; 
and  scarcely  less  fearful!}^  anxious  was  that  of  Alick  than 
of  the  mother  herself.  Da  Costa's  mournful  expression 
bespoke  his  opinion  already  formed ;  but  he  too  looked, 
as  if  to  catch  at  some  gleam  of  hope.  Captain  Ryan 
strove  to  speak,  and  in  a  cheerful  tone,  but  the  effect  was 
fruitless :  he  uttered  an  incoherent  word  or  two,  and  clasp- 
ing his  hands,  walked  away. 

The  stillness  of  death  prevailed  for  some  moments, 
when  he  again  approached  the  little  couch,  seemingly 
about  to  speak,  but  Charles  prevented  him  :  lifting  up  at 
once  his  meek  eyes,  and  his  little  trembling  hands,  in  a 
voice  of  the  most  touching,  imploring  entreaty,  he  said, 
'  Dear  papa  !  please,  papa,  oh,  may  I  go  and  die  at  Jeru- 
salem 1     May  I,  papa'?  may  IV 

'  You  must  not  talk  of  dying,  Charley,'  said  Da  Costa, 
who  alone  seemed  able  to  speak.  '  At  present  you  are  not 
well  enough  to  be  moved,  and  you  will  be  more  likely  to 
get  well  here.' 

'  Oh,  don't  you  say  that,  Mr.  Dockster,  and  you  a  Jew. 
Sure,  if  I  am  to  get  better,  it's  in  Jerusalem  I  should 
thrive  ;  and  if  Fm  going  to  die,  oh,  but  1  should  like  to 
die,  and  to  be  buried  in  Jerusalem  itself !'  The  last 
words  were  spoken  with  an  animation  approaching  to 
gaiety  ;  but  the  sudden  return  of  stupor  put  an  end  to  the 
question,  and  Da  Costa  begged  them  by  all  means  to  in- 
dulge any  disposition  to  quietness. 

At  nightfall  the  total  want  of  every  comfort  for  a  sick 
room  pressed  more  forcibly  on  their  minds.  Jerusalem 
was  not  so  far  off  as  to  make  the  journey  formidable  ;  but 
the  road  was  bad,  and  accommodations  were  uncertain. 
Da  Costa  could  ensure  them  a  welcome  to  a  respectable 
19* 


214<  JITDAH  S  LION. 

house,  if  still  tenanted  as  when  he  last  visited  the  Holy 
City  ;  but  this  was  doubtful.  While  the  anxious  discus- 
sion proceeded,  Alick  stole  away  into  the  adjoining  room, 
and  creeping  softly  to  the  couch,  listened  to  the  breath- 
ings of  his  little  friend,  which  were  short  and  quick,  and 
unequal :  he  kneeled  beside  the  bed,  overwhelmed  with 
anxious  sorrow,  and  tried  to  pray,  but  his  views  seemed 
to  have  become  more  darkened  and  perplexed  than  ever, 
probably  because  he  had  carried  his  inquiries  farther  and 
in  a  more  observant  spirit,  while  Da  Costa,  with  the  quick- 
ness for  which  he  was  remarkable,  still  explained  away, 
according  to  the  dictates  of  man's  wisdom,  those  truths 
which  are  only  to  be  apprehended  by  simple  faith.  Char- 
ley's breath  soon  assumed  an  articulate  sound  ;  and  after 
some  low  murmurings,  he  distinctly  repeated, 

*  The  cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 

But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.' 

At  the  same  time  a  moonbeam  stole  through  the  unglazed 
crevice  that  served  as  a  window,  upon  the  pillow,  and 
showed  his  eyes  open  :  he  turned  them,  and  putting  his 
hand  tp  the  face  that  bent  over  him,  and  which  was  now 
moist  Avith  tears,  he  said,  '  Darling  Alick,  I  was  thinking, 
or  dreaming,  or  something,  about  how  I  saw  you  at  sea, 
and  how  we  talked,  and  got  fond  of  one  another:  I  love 
you  very  dearly,  and  so  does  Jesus  Christ.' 

*  He  loves  you,  Charley,  you  mean.' 

'And  he  lovts  you,  Mr,  Alick,  and  Mr.  Dockster,  and 
all  the  Jews;  and  all  the  Christians  that  believe  in  him  ; 
only  you  don't  know  it.  Now  I  know  it,  and  I  do  be  so 
happy  you  can't  think  :  I  dare  say  I'm  going  to  die ;  and 
if  I  didn't  know  that  Jesus  has  the  key  of  heaven,  and  if 
I  didn't  know  that  he  loves  me,  how  would  I  get  in  ?  If 
he  did  not  love  me,  he  would  not  let  me  in  ;  and  if  I 
didn't  know  he  has  the  key,  I  couldn't  ask  him  to  let  me 
in,  you  know.' 


jtjdah's  lion.  215 

'Charley,  every  word  you  speak  goes  to  my  heart,  but 
I  wonder  why  you  should  think  Jesus  Christ  loves  the 
Jews,  when  they  don't  care  about  him  ;  to  say  the  least 
of  it.  And  besides,  if  he  does  love  us,  what  good  will  it 
do  to  us,  since,  as  you  say,  we  don't  know  he  has  the 
key  ;  that  means,  the  power.' 

'Why  there's  the  very  thing  itself,  Mr.  Alick.  The 
trouble  is  that  you  won't  ask  him,  when  he  is  all  ready  to 
give  you  as  soon  as  you  do.  Sure,  if  you  asked  him  you 
would  get  your  land  back  fast  enough :  .but  you  won't 
ask  him,  either  for  that  or  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  so  you 
don't  get  them.'  Alick  sighed  heavily  :  '  I'd  rather  have 
the  least  corner  in  the  kingdom,  of  heaven,  Charley,  than 
even  all  this  goodly  land,  my  own  land,  the  land  of  my 
father  Abraham.' 

'  Have  you  asked  him  for  it  V  said  Charley. 

'I  hardly  know:  I  cannot  frame  my  lips  to  address  a 
prayer  directly  to  him  ;  but  if  thoughts  are  heard,  he  has 
heard  many  a  prayer  from  me ;  for  I  am  always  thinking 
of  him.' 

'  Think  of  him  still,'  whispered  Mrs.  Ryan,  who,  con- 
cealed by  the  shade  of  the  room  had  stood  near,  and  heard 
the  latter  part  of  the  conversation.  '  Think  of  him  as  the 
faithful  and  true  God,  keeping  his  covenant  of  mercy  for 
ever.  See  how  he  smoothes  the  bed  of  death,  and  gladdens 
the  fleeting  spirit  of  that  infant  believer ;  and  how  he 
subdues  the  mother's  rebellious  grief,  and  upholds  the 
mother's  fainting  heart,  and  speaks  peace  to  his  mourners ; 
a  peace  sweeter  than  all  the  joys  of  earth  can  give.' 

'Mamma,  is  that  you  1'  said  Charley. 

'  It  is,  my  darling.' 

'  Oh,  mamma,  please  let  me  go  to  Jerusalem  !' 

'  My  precious  child,  when  I  think  of  all  the  superstition 
that  has  led  people  away  from  God  to  rest  in  the  name, 
the  mere  stones  of  Jerusalem,  and  other  things  that  are 
accounted  holy,  I  do  fear  lest  my  Charley's  mind  may  be 


216  judah's  lion. 

at  all  drawn  off  from  the  Lord,  by  this  very  great  anxiety 
to  reach  the  place  where  he  taught  and  suffered.' 

'  It  isn't  that,  mamma  ;  but  I  love  Jerusalem  so  I  I  don't 
love  it  better  than  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  mamma,  but 
I  don't  like  to  stop  here  :  I  don't  like  to  die  here.' 

Mrs.  Ryan's  inmost  desire  was  to  leave  the  place  they 
were  in,  and  she,  too,  connected  many  calming  thoughts 
with  the  locality  of  Jerusalem.  She  therefore  promised 
not  to  oppose  the  journey  :  and  as  Charley  was  becoming 
drowsy  again,  Alick  left  her  beside  him. 

Instead  of  returning  to  his  friends,  he  sauntered  out  into 
a  pleasant  grove  of  olive-trees,  interspersed  with  a  thou- 
sand bright  flowers,  that  lay  just  outside  the  town.  The 
moon  was  clear,  and  nothing  could  exceed  the  beauty  of 
the  scene.  The  air,  balmy  and  loaded  with  fragrance,  came 
refreshingly  to  his  aching  brow;  and  when,  through  a,. 
vista  of  trees,  the  hill-country  of  Judea  broke  on  his  sight, 
and  all  the  most  powerful  feelings  of  his  soul  were  called 
at  once  into  play,  he  could  have  kneeled  to  ask,  in  the 
anxious  inquiry  of  a  thoroughly  awakened  mind,  whether 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  indeed  the  King  of  Israel. 

But  it  was  not  there  that  his  doubt  was  to  be  settled ; 
much  remained  for  him  to  learn,  and  a  sharper  school  must 
prepare  him  for  it.  As  yet,  his  path  had  been  smooth  and 
easy,  with  no  greater  difficulty  to  encounter  than  the  rising 
perplexities  of  his  own  mind.  Very  different  scenes  were 
before  him,  and  dangers  of  which  he  little  dreamed. 

The  decision  was  taken  to  proceed,  if  circumstances 
admitted  of  their  so  doing ;  and  with  many  misgivings, 
but  still  enabled  to  rest  all  his  care  on  One  well  able  to 
sustain  it,  the  father  placed  his  child  in  the  conveyance 
provided,  with  every  possible  precaution  against  the  con- 
sequence to  be  dreaded  from  so  exceedingly  rough  a 
road  :  and  escorted  by  a  larger  body  of  guards  than  be- 
fore, under  the  direction  of  the  friendly  Armenian,  they 
set  forward  towards  the  Holy  City. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


Most  lovely  was  the  scenery  through  which  our  travellers 
bent  their  way  for  a  considerable  time  after  leaving 
Ramah,  and  but  for  one  circumstance,  it  would  have  been 
a  season  of  rich  enjoyment.  Da  Costa,  while  pointing 
out  the  ever-varying  beauties  that  surrounded  them,  and 
expatiating  on  the  unquestionable  fertility  of  the  soil,  if 
but  common  justice  in  the  way  of  tillage  was  done  to  it, 
seemed  to  lose  the  recollection  of  his  outcast  condition. 
The  land  was  his,  and  he  spoke  of  it  as  though,  not  only 
in  retrospect  and  in  prospect,  but  also  in  actual  possession, 
it  was  his  own.  Every  group  of  olives,  every  scattered 
oak  was  to  him  a  subject  worth  descanting  on  j  and  his 
intimate  knowledge  of  Scripture,  which  he  quoted  fluently, 
and  so  far  as  regarded  the  historical  and  geographical 
sense,  with  most  correct  application,  rendered  his  dis- 
course alike  interesting  and  instructive.  '  You  are  aware,' 
said  he,  '  that  it  is  the  fashion  among  those  who  profess 
to  understand  our  Scriptures  better  than  we  do  ourselves, 
either  to  explain  away  by  some  shadowy  interpretation 
what  is  declared  of  the  natural  fertility  of  this  good  land, 
or  else  assert  that  God  has  smitten  it  by  an  irreversible 
decree  of  barrenness,  so  that  it  shall  never  recover  its 
former  fruitfulness.  According  to  them  the  soil  and  its 
inheritors  are  alike  shut  out  from  the  life-giving  favor  of 
the  Almighty :  their  former  distinction    existing   but  in 


218  judah's  lion. 

name ;  or  rather  indeed,  as  they  would  make  out,  render- 
ed more  conspicuous  by  the  very  marked  reverse  of  all 
that  they  once  were.  It  may  be  so,  as  regards  the  race 
of  Israel :  it  may  be,'  he  added,  with  a  proud  and  scorn- " 
ful  smile,  as  he  encouraged  his  fiery  steed  to  prance,  and 
show  fortii  his  own  and  his  rider's  stateliness,  '  it  may  be 
that  we  are  all  a  race  of  abject,  spirit-broken  slaves ;  that 
among  us  is  no  intellect,  no  wealth,  no  enterprise,  no 
worldly  wisdom  or  spiritual  knowledge  :  it  may  be  that 
every  man's  foot  is  still  on  our  neck,  and  that  Israel  is 
yet  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the  streets — but  look  at 
yonder  patch  of  corn ;  narrow  though  the  field  be,  how 
rich,  how  abundant  is  its  produce  !  See  that  magnificent 
palm,  rearing  its  tufted  head  on  high,  while  the  brown 
olive  boughs  beneath  it  are  bending  with  the  weight  of 
ripening  fruit ;  and  see  to  the  left  what  a  carpet  of 
gorgeous  flowers  is  spread  out,  springing  in  pure  wanton 
defiance  of  human  culture  from  the  recesses  of  this  neg- 
lected soil — I  tell  you,  this  country  shall  again  bloom  as 
Eden,  when  once  its  own  sons  have  it  under  their  foster- 
ing hands.' 

'  And  1  tell  you,'  answered  Ryan,  '  that  they  too,  the 
seed  of  Jacob,  shall  again  blossom  and  bud,  and  fill  the 
face  of  the  world  with  fruit.' 

'  And  you  very  well  know,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  that  your 
description  of  what  Israel,  through  grinding  oppression 
and  fearful  persecution,  has  been  in  Europe,  no  longer 
exists.  The  Lord  hath  begun  to  take  away  the  reproach 
of  his  people  :  the  wealth  that  formerly  was  wrung  from 
them  by  inhuman  tortures,  is  now  borrowed  by  states  and 
rulers,  on  terms  most  advantageous  to  the  lenders,  afford- 
ing them  an  interest  in,  and  an  influence  over  the  desti- 
nies of  empires.  In  art,  in  science,  in  literature,  the 
Hebrew  continually  stands  before  us,  successfully  com- 
peting the  highest  prizes  of  emolument  and  fame.     Your 


judah's  lion.  219 

position  now  is,  in  reference  to  Ezekiel's  vision,  not  that 
of  separated  bones,  scattered  bleak  and  bare,  and  very  dry 
throughout  the  valley,  but  of  bones  re-united,  and  rapidly 
receiving  their  covering  of  flesh  and  sinew,  preparatory 
to  the  reception  of  perfect  glowing  life.' 

'  And  that  once  received,'  added  Captain  Ryan,  '  you 
will  rise  up  an  exceeding  great  army,  against  whom  no 
people  shall  be  able  to  stand  ;  for  the  Lord  your  God 
will  be  with  you,  and  the  shout  of.  a  king  be  among 
you.' 

Da  Costa  smiled  kindly :  '•  I  believe  we  are  all  well 
agreed  as  to  the  end,  however  we  may  differ  concernino- 
the  means  of  its  attainment.' 

During  this  time,  Alick  never  once  spoke,  nor  did  his 
attention  appear  for  a  moment  diverted  from  the  little 
carriage  in  which  Charley  was  slung,  by  a  contrivance  of 
his,  more  independent  of  the  motions  of  the  mule  than 
before.  That  child  had  been  to  him  in  an  especial  man- 
ner the  bearer  of  glad  tidings  if  he  would  receive  them  as 
such  ;  and  he  felt  as  if  to  lose  him  would  be  a  disjunction 
from  the  good  that  he  was  secretly  longing  to  grasp.  In- 
cessantly was  he  gazing  into  the  little  litter,  through  the 
aperture  that  for  ventilation  was  left  in  its  curtain  ;  and 
often  did  the  dull,  heavy  cast  of  a  countenance  ever 
bright  with  restless  animation,  excite  a  fear  lest  the  last 
smile  had  passed  away.  The  short  dialogue  just  recorded 
had  allowed  him  a  more  protracted  contemplation  of  that 
sunken  face  than  he  had  before  enjoyed :  and  when 
Captain  Ryan  again  addressed  him,  tears  had  gathered  in 
his  eyes. 

'Dear  Cohen,  this  trial  falls  heavily  on  you.  To  us 
it  is,  indeed,  a  heart-piercing  stroke ;  but  we  have  a  con- 
solation, the  strength  and  the  sweetness  of  which  how 
gladly  would  we  share  with  you  !' 


220  judah's  lion. 

*■  It  is  my  greatest  comfort,  sir,  to  see  you  and  his  dear 
mother  so  supported.' 

'  We  need  a  divine  support,  indeed,  for,  even  were  he 
not  as  he  is,  our  only  one,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  five 
over  whose  early  graves  we  have  been  taught  submission 
to  the  will  of  the  Lord,  still  there  is  that  in  his  character 
which  makes  our  hearts  cleave  to  him  with  a  fondness  no 
words  can  portray.  But  thanks  be  to  the  Giver  of  all 
good  gifts,  what  most  endears  him  to  us  now,  will  prove 
the  best  source  of  consolation  under  the  bereavement 
which  I  feel  but  too  sure  awaits  us.' 

'  I  never  loved  any  living  thing  half  so  well,'  said 
Alick,  struggling  with  his  grief:  '  but  no  wonder,  for  who 
even  among  mature  men  loves  my  people  as  that  babe 
doesV 

'  It  is  really  marvellous.  You  know,  Cohen,  I  have  for 
some  years  been  much  devoted  to  the  cause  :  and  Charles 
has  heard  a  good  deal  on  the  subject  at  home :  but  there 
seemed  to  be  a  sort  of  preparedness  in  his  young  heart  to 
receive  the  promise  of  God's  gracious  purposes  towards 
Israel  with  a  fulness  and  a  gladness  that  I  never  saw 
equalled.  Child  as  he  is  in  temper,  in  manners,  in  lan- 
guage, on  all  other  points,  he  is  there  the  enthusiastic 
man ;  and  I  cannot  tell  you  what  a  gloom  steals  over  my 
spirit  while  thus  conducting  him,  insensibly  I  may  almost 
say,  through  the  land  he  so  ardently  longed  to  visit.  It 
is  teaching  me  a  sad,  but  I  hope  a  profitable,  lesson  of  my 
own  deficiency  in  single-eyed  devotion.' 

They  continued  for  some  miles  to  pass  over  a  country 
of  smiling  plains  ;  but  at  length  the  ascent  began,  the 
road  narrowed,  and  became  extremely  rugged,  while  be- 
fore them,  with  occasional  intermixture  of  a  verdant  and 
cultivated  spot,  rose  piles  of  frowning  rocks,  and  towering 
mountains,  which  gradually  closed  in  upon  them,  until 
their  path  became  a  narrow,  rugged,  steep  defile,  where 


judah's  lioNo  221 

two  could  not  without  difficulty  pass  abreast;  and  where 
the  motion  was  such  that,  with  all  the  anxious  care  of  his 
tender  guardians,  poor  little  Charley  was  rocked  in  his 
rough  cradle  with  a  rudeness  that  completely  dissipated 
his  heavy  slumber,  and  drew  forth  exclamations  of  sur- 
prise, if  not  of  suffering.  He  fancied  himself  on  board 
ship,  and  talked  of  a  storm. 

'  We  are  not  at  sea,  darling,'  said  Alick,  '  but  travel- 
ling through  the  mountain-passes  of  Judea,  on  the  way  to 
Jerusalem.' 


At  that  word  the  boy  raised  up  his  head,  and  exclaim^ 
ed,  '  Let  me  look  at  Jerusalem  !' 

'  You  shall  when  we  come  within  sight  of  it,'  answered 
his  father  ;  '  but  some  hours  must  elapse  before  then.  Lie 
still,  Charley,  and  I  will  tell  you  when  we  approach  the 
holy  city.' 

'I  would  rather  talk,  papa.  Is  this  Mount  Lebanon,  or 
is  it  the  Mount  of  Olives,  or  Mount  Zion,  or  what  is  it  ?' 

'Lebanon,'  answered  Da  Costa,  'is  at  some  distance 
from  this  place  ;  the  Mount  of  Olives  is  over  against  Jeru- 
salem ;  and  on  Mount  Zion  the  city  of  David  itself  was 
built.' 

'Ah,  I  forget,  but  my  head  is  very  foolish,  somehow. 
What  mountain  is  it,  Mr.  Docksterl  Is  there  anything 
about  it  in  the  Bible  1' 

'  I  do  not  remember  that  there  is  ;  but  we  shall  soon 
see  a  place  about  which  you  have  surely  heard  much  ; 
the  plain  where  young  David  fought  Goliah,  and  destroy- 
ed him.  The  armies,  you  know,  were  drawn  up  oppo- 
site to  each  other,  Saul  and  the  Israelites  on  one  side,  on 
the  other  the  Philistines;  and  Goliah  came  down  into  the 
plain  every  day  to  threaten  and  to  taunt  them.' 

'  And  David  chose  some  pebbles  out  of  the  brook,'  said 
Charles,  '  and  he  put  them  in  his  shepherd's  sling,  and 
20 


222  judah's  lion. 

slung  them,  and  hit  the  giant  in  the  forehead,  and  killed 
him,  and  took  his  own  sword  and  cut  his  head  olT  with  it.' 

'  Exactly  so  ;  presently  I  will  show  you  the  brook 
where  David  got  the  pebbles,  and  the  place  where  the 
giant  fell.' 

'  The  Philistines  were  bad  people,'  observed  Charles : 
•  they  were  always  persecuting  the  Jews.' 

'  Only  when  they  sinned  ;  w^hen  they  repented,  the 
Lord  always  raised  up  some  deliverer  whom  they  follow- 
ed, and  under  whose  command  they  put  all  their  enemies 
to  the  rout — as  they  shall  do  again.' 

'  Yes,'  answered  Charles,  with  great  energy,  '  when 
they  repent  again,  and  when  they  follow  Jesus  Christ,  so 
they  shall.' 

To  this,  of  course,  no  reply  was  given ;  and,  after  a 
moment's  pause,  Charley  raised  his  head  higher,  and  asked 
in  a  shrill  tone,  '  Why  don't  you  believe,  why  won't  you 
believe  in  Jesus  Christ  1' 

Da  Costa  was  still  silent ;  but'  Charley  became  more 
urgent :  '  Mr.  Dockster,  I  say,  why  won't  you  believe  "?' 

'  Suppose,'  said  the  Jew,  '  1  was  to  ask  you  why  do  you 
believe  ?  but  hush,  dear  babe,'  he  added,  seeing  him  about 
to  reply,  '  you  will  exhaust  all  your  little  strength,  at  this 
rate.' 

'  It  doesn't  tire  me  at  all,  at  all,'  said  Charley,  'it  does 
me  good  ;  and  I'll  tell  you  why  I  believe — because  I  know 
he  loves  me.' 

'  You  mean  that  he  loves  you  because  you  believe,'  said 
Alick. 

'  No !  I  don't.  He  loved  me  before  I  believed,  and 
because  he  loved  me,  he  made  me  believe ;  and  because 
he  loves  me  he  will  take  me  to  heav3n,  now,  very  soon.' 

'  You  will  be  more  likely  to  live  if  you  think  less  of 
dying,  my  dear  boy,'  said  Da  Costa  ;  'see,'  he  added,  as  a 
lovely  animal,  Ijounding  along  the  mountainside,  paused, 


judah's  lion.  223 

and  peered  down  upon  them,  quite  in  Charley's  view, 
'see  that  merry  little  creature.  1  hope  you  will  be  like 
It  again,  ere  lonn-.' 

'  What  a  pretty  goat !'  said  the  boy. 

*It  is  not  a  goat,  but  a  Gazelle,  or  Antelope,  a  far  more 
elegant  creaiure.'  Charley's  countenance  suddenly  light- 
ed up  ;  he  exclaimed,  '  The  wild  Gazelle  !  Papa,  the 
wild  Gazelle!  Oh,  say  it  for  me  ;'  his  father  complied, 
and  recited  the  lines  with  such  feeling  that  Alick,  who 
from  anxiety  and  internal  conflict  was  become  doubly 
sensitive,  could  scarcely  master  his  emotion.  They  were 
now  on  the  point  of  emerging  from  that  close,  narrow^ 
defile  ;  a  lovely  vale  lay  before  them,  while  the  moun- 
tain?, forming  a  vast  amphitheatre,  swept  round  and  rose 
in  beautiful  undulations,  height  above  height,  the  stern 
rough  stone,  in  abrupt  ridges,  marking  the  natural  terraces 
that  formed  the  ascent,  of  which  it  was  the  protecting 
wall.  Trees  of  stately  growth,  shrubs  of  delicious  fra- 
grance, and  the  richest  profusion  of  wild-flowers,  adorned 
this  landscape,  and  still  the  frolicksome  Gazelle  would 
leap  from  one  ledge  to  another,  while  the  flock  of  moun- 
tain goals  more  quietly  browsed  on  the  pastures  of  the 
valley  below. 

'  Aye,'  said  Da  Costa,  sighing,  as  he  surveyed  the 
magnificent  prospect,  '  those  lines,  coming  as  they  did  too 
from  the  head  of  a  man  who  had  no  heart,  express  what 
volumes  would  fail  in  conveying: — 

"  More  blest  each  pine  that  shades  these  plains 

Than  Israel's  scattered  race  ; 
For,  taking  root,  it  here  remains 

In  solitary  grace. 
It  will  not  leave  its  place  of  birth, 
It  cannot  live  in  other  earth  : 
But  we  must  wander  witheringly." 

That  is  the  very  word— witheringly ;  the  same  in  sub- 


224  judah's  lion. 

stance;  in  form,  in  name,  in  nature  unchanged,  but  all 
freslmess  and  beauty  dried  up,  bearing  no  fruit,  incapable 
of  farther  growth,  and  subsisting  as  a  monument  of  what 
we  were,  ere  rudely  plucked  up  from  our  own  rich  soil, 
to  become  the  scorn  of  inferior  plants,  yet  waving  gay 
and  green  because  they  were  never  expatriated.' 

Charley,  meanwhile,  was  murmuring  to  himself  the 
closing  lines. 

Our  Temple  hath  not  left  a  stone, 
And  mockery  sits  on  Salem's  throne. 

'  Well,  I  shall  see  where  Solomon's  temple  stood,  and  the 
other  temple  that  Nehemiah  m  ide  :  and  I  shall  see  the 
Mount  of  Olives  where  the  Lord  Jesus  stood  when  he 
wept  over  Jerusalem  ;  and  he  stood  there  when  he  was 
just  going  up  into  heaven  ;  and  he  will  stand  there  when 
he  comes  again  to  split  the  mountain  in  two  :  I  know  that/ 

'  What  does  he  mean  V  whispered  Da  Costa,  who  had 
caught  the  last  words ;  and  Alick,  who  seemed  restlessly 
anxious  to  hear  Charley  talk,  repeated  to  him  the  question. 

'  I  mean,'  replied  the  child,  '  when  the  Lord  comes  to 
reign,  his  feet  shall  stand  on  the  Mount  of  Olives.  The 
Bible  says  so.' 

'  How  wonderfully  conversant  he  is  in  our  scriptures !' 
remarked  Da  Costa. 

'Yes,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  'he  knows  them  surprisingly 
for  a  chitd  of  his  age :  but  you  see  all  his  knowledge  re- 
solves itself  into  one  thing— love  for  the  Savior.' 

Again  the  mountains  enclosed  them  so  straitly  that  they 
were  obliged  to  proceed  in  single  file,  and  each  w;is  left  to 
his  own  meditations.  Alick's  were  inexpressibly  painful  y 
he  felt  altogether  alone  in  the  world,  anticipating  the 
speedy  dissolution  of  his  little  companion.  He  seemed 
to  occupy  a  position  debarring  him  from  fellowship  with 
any  class  of  persons.     More  than  ever  a  Jew,  he  had  re- 


JtTDAH^S    LION.  22  & 

Ceived  so  much  of  Christian  doctrine  as  made  it  a  matter 
of  serious  distress  to  witness,  or  rather  to  know  the  settled 
abhorrence  of  his  Hebrew  companion,  and  of  all  his  race, 
against  Him  of  whom  he  was  almost  convinced  that  Moses 
in  the  law,  and  the  prophets  did  write  ;  yet  the  influence 
of  Da  Costa  over  his  feelings  was  considerable,  and  it 
operated  in  rendering  him   ill  at  ease  when   listening  to 
Captain  Ryan.     He  felt  that  he  was  watched,  and  almost 
suspected ;    and  while  his   naturally  open  and    fearless 
character  rendered  it  most  painful  to  be  supposed  capable 
of  concealing   his   real  sentiments,  he  felt  that,  so  far  as 
he  had  gone  in  admitting  disputed  points,  he  could  not 
sustain  an  argument  in  their  defence,  and  would  not  wrong 
the  truth  by  sanctioning  an   enemy's  supposition  that  it 
was  indefensible  by  sound  argument.     He  wished  himself 
in  Charley's  situation,  if  the  same   faith  and  hope  were 
given  to  sustain  him  in  it :  but  without  these,  death  was  a 
subject  from  which  he  shrank  affrighted.     His  favorite 
project  of  studying  the  Bible  wiih  Da  Costa  had  not  yet 
been  carried   into  eflect ;  and  among  men   there  seemed 
no  sympathy  for  him.  But,  when  he  turned  his  eye  upon 
the  hills  that  rose  around  him,  there  was  indeed  a  fellow- 
ship unspeakable  in  that  strange,  solemn,  solitary  landscape, 
beautiful  in  its  desolate  grandeur,  and  oh,  how  rich  in  its 
sacred   associations  !       '  Here,'   thought   he,    '  my  fathers 
dwelt  beneath  the  immediate  guardianship  of  the  Mighty 
One:    they    were    not  left  to  grope    among    conflicting 
opinions,  all  pressed  on  them  with  the  confidence  that 
belongs  to  truth  alone  ;  but  they  were  taught  and  led  by 
men  whose  sacred  commission  was  sealed  and  ratified  by 
daily  signs  from  heaven.     Then,  all  these  rocky  terraces 
were   covered   with  rich  soil,  mantled   by  the  vine,  and 
perpetually  trodden  by  the  feet  of  the  rejoicing  husband- 
man, whose  teniporal  and  spiritual  wants  were  alike  sup- 
plied by  the  great  King  of  Itirael.    Here,  angels  communed 
20* 


S2&  judah's  lion. 

with  men,  and  visions  from  heaven  illumined  the  mind& 
of  our  seers,  and  the  echoes  that  now  faintly  give  back 
the  tramp  of  our  Jiorses  along  this  stony  road,  rang  with 
the  reverberated  song  of  gladness  and  praise.  O  land 
most  beloved  !  why,  why  are  you  forsaken,  trodden  down, 
and  changed  into  a  wilderness  1  why  are  your  sons  wan- 
derers among  the  Gentiles,  their  minds  so  darkened,  their 
hearts  so  alienated  that  they  are  content  to  be  outcasts 
from  you  1  Would  that  one  of  the  heavenly  messengers 
who  came  to  my  fathers,  to  Gideon,  to  Manoah,  to  Daniel 
and  the  prophets,  would  also  come  to  me  and  explain 
what  now  perplexes  me.  Do  they  not  wander  here  still, 
though  concealed  from  our  eyes  1  Is  this  good  and  pleas- 
ant land  forsaken  of  all  its  celestial  friends  V 

He  continued  thus,  in  silent  bitterness  of  spirit,  to  med- 
itate on  his  own  and  his  country's  doom:  Captain  Ryan 
marked  it  all,  and  was  fully  resolved  to  speak  out  with 
unreserved  faithfulness  so  soon  as  opportunity  was  afford- 
ed ;  but  the  way  became  more  rough  and  difficult,  more 
trying  to  poor  little  Charley,  and  overpowering  to  his 
mother.  The  guides  had  commenced  wrangling,  and 
despite  the  earnest  efforts  of  the  Armenian,  their  angry 
voices  often  broke  with  alarming  effect,  on  the  travellers' 
ears.  The  day  was  drawing  on,  and  fatigue  began  to 
manifest  itself  painfully  in  the  looks  of  the  little  sufferer, 
who  was  evidently  quite  awake  and  sensible,  when  sud' 
denly  a  loud  voice  from  the  van  proclaimed  that  in  a  few 
minutes  the  Holy  City  would  be  within  view. 

The  movement  occasioned  by  this  announcement  did 
not  escape  Charley  ;  he  asked  the  cause,  and  being  told — 
for  his  parents  never  deceived  him  in  any  matter, — he 
cried  out,  'Now%  papa!  now  take  me  upon  your  horse  !' 

Captain  Ryan  looked  alarmed  ;  and  whispered  to  Da 
Costa,  '  impossible  !' 

But  Charley  again  called  out,  '  Papa  !  you  promised/ 


Judah's  lion.  227 

Again  Captain  Ryan  looked  at  his  friend,  who  said, 
after  calling  for  a  halt,  '  You  cannot  do  it  with  safety,  but 
I  can.  My  horse's  pace  is  very  easy  and  smooth  ;  he 
knows  every  foot  of  this  particular  road;  I  feel  it  is  ask- 
ing a  good  deal  to  ask  you  to  give  up  to  me  so  precious 
a  charge ;  but  I  will  be  most  careful,  indeed  I  v*fill :  he 
must  not  be  agitated  by  a  denial ;  and  I  wish  so  much  to 
have  the  privilege,  for  I  love  that  boy  dearly,  dearly ! — 
And  this  is  Jerusalem — and  I  am  a  Jew.' 

Captain  Ryan  had  never  seen  this  accomplished  man 
of  the  world  so  agitated  by  unrestrained  emotion :  he  felt 
it,  and  taking  Charley  out  of  his  little  crib,  without  a 
word  spoken,  he  folded  a  shawl  about  him,  and  placed 
him  in  the  arms  of  Da  Costa,  whose  look  of  gratitude  and 
delight  overpaid  even  that  sacrifice. 

'  Have  I  done  right,  love  V  whispered  the  father,  as  he 
turned  a  glistening  eye  on  his  wife,  by  whose  side  he 
again  stationed  himself. 

'Always,  always  right,  my  beloved!'  she  answered, 
'and  in  this  instance  my  heart  especially  goes  along  with 
yours.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  stilled  I  feel  just  now; 
murmuring  seems  hushed,  self  almost  annihilated.  Can 
it  be  that  we  are  indeed  about  to  look  upon  the  city  of 
our  God — the  very  scene  of  HIS  sufferings,  who  by  those 
sufferings  ransomed  us  from  the  power  of  the  grave  1 
Who  has  by  those  sufferings  opened  the  gate  of  heaven 
and  now  stands  ready  to  receive  the  happy  spirit  of  that ' 
she  could  not  proceed. 

'It  is  even  so,'  replied  her  husband:  'and  oh,  let  all 
selfish  emotions  be  swallowed  up  in  the  glorious  prospect 
of  Zion's  welcome  to  her  returning  King.' 

Meanwhile,  Charley  was  placed  most  carefully  and  ten- 
derly by  Da  Costa  almost  within  the  folds  of  his  robe 
which  he  loosened  for  the  purpose,  the  little  boy's  head 
nestled  on  his  bosom,  with  the  face  literally  set  Zionward  ; 


22^  JdDAH's  LION. 

and  so  cradled  in  the  arms  of  his  friend  as  to  be  almost 
independent  of  the  saddle's  support.  He  was  exceeding- 
ly weak,  like  an  infant,  but  just  then  quite  free  from  fe- 
ver, though  breathless  with  eager  expectation.  Da  Costa 
kissed  his  damp  forehead,  and  asked  if  he  were  comfort- 
able. Charley  raised  his  eyes  :  he  evidently  did  not  till 
that  moment  know  who  held  him,  and  fixing'  on  him  a 
look  full  of  love  and  gladness,  replied  by  ejaculating, 
'youdarlint  ofaJew!' 

But  where  was  Alick  1  Some  paces  removed  from 
the  rest,  absorbed  in  thoughts  and  feelings  that  rendered 
all  which  passed  around  him  a  mere  dream.  Every  ob- 
ject within  his  view  seemed  gifted  with  a  voice  to  address 
him  in  language  at  once  tender,  upbraiding,  and  encour- 
aging. He  could  not  disconnect  from  them  the  idea  of 
Him  whom  he  was  at  one  moment  disposed  to  worship 
as  the  incarnate  God,  at  another  to  shun  as  tempting  him 
into  idolatrous  sin.  He  breathed,  in  a  low  voice,  the  irre-" 
versible  declaration  of  the  Most  High,  so  dearly  cherished 
by  his  people,  "  Hear,  0  Israel !  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a 
Unity ;"  and  again  he  seemed  to  hear  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
responding,  "I  and  my  Father  are  One."  When  the  rest 
halted,  he  did  the  same,  mechanically  ;  and  when  the 
word  was  again  given  to  move  on,  he  ulso  obeyed  ;  but  in 
the  intenseness  of  that  internal  struggle,  even  Charley's 
transfer  was  unnoticed. 

Slowly,  and  in  deep  silence,  the  party  now  began  to  as- 
cend a  rise  in  the  road  ;  and  after  proceeding  for  some 
time  on  level  ground,  the  guides  uttered  in  different  lan- 
guages the  same  name,  and  turning  their  horses  aside,  al- 
lowed the  travellers  to  advance.  There,  stretched  in 
long,  unequal  line,  rose  in  the  distance  before  them  the 
solid  wall  of  the  city  ;  with  here  and  there  a  round  dome 
peering  above  its  stern  outline,  or  a  slender  minaret  up- 
raising  its  more  light  and  lofty  form.     There  was  no 


judah's  lion.  229 

moving  thing  at  that  moment  within  view  :  they  might 
have  been  the  only  breathing  creatures  on  earth's  surface 
for  aught  they  could  see  or  hear  of  animated  life  ;  and  this, 
joined  with  the  tomb-like  aspect  of  the  spot  before  them, 
added  greatly  to  the  solemnity  of  the  moment.  Captain 
Ryan  impulsively  uncovered  his  head  ;  his  wife,  placing 
her  hand  on  his  arm,  leaned  tremblingly,  and  burst  into 
tears.  Alick,  wholly  incapable  of  longer  control,  dis- 
mounted, and  pressed  his  lips  to  the  ground  ;  while  Da 
Costa,  after  casting  towards  him  one  look  of  sympathy, 
raised  little  Charley's  hand  in  hi3,  and  pointed  it  towards 
the  holy  city,  at  the  same  time  almost  dreading  that  the  ex- 
citement might  extinguish  the  feeble  remains  of  life  in  his 
little  frame. 

But  it  was  far  otherwise  :  no  sooner  had  the  boy's  eye 
caught  the  precious  object,  than  he  passed  as  it  were  into 
a  new  state  of  existence.  He  cried  out:  "  Beautiful  situ- 
ation, the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is  Mount  Zion,  the  city 
of  the  living  God  !"  Then  clapping  his  hands,  he  shout- 
ed, '  Jerusalem  !  Jerusalem  !  I  see  Jerusalem.  Papa, 
mamma,  there's  Jerusalem ;  don't  you  see  Jerusalem  1 
Oh,  now  say  the  verses,  papa,  do,  do !  "  The  glorious 
day."  ' 

Captain  Eyan  was  instantly  by  his  side,  and  catching 
the  flash  of  the  child's  enthusiasm,  he  repeated,  with  all 
the  ardcr  of  a  thoroughly-excited  Irishman,  those  beauti- 
ful lines. 

But  who  shall  see  the  glorious  day, 

When  throned  on  Zion's  brow, 
The  Lord  shall  rend  that  veil  away 

Which  blinds  the  nations  now  ? 
When  earth  no  more  beneath  the  fear 

Of  his  rebuke  shall  lie ; 
When  pain  shall  cease,  and  every  tear 

Be  wiped  from  ev'ry  eye  ? 


230  JUDAH'S  LIO^. 

Then,  Jttdah  !  thou  no  more  shalt  mourn 

Beneath  tlie  heathen's  chain  ; 
Thy  days  of  splendor  shall  return, 

And  all  be  new  again  : 
The  fount  of  life  shall  then  be  quaffed 

In  peace  bv  all  who  come, 
And  every  wind  that  blows  shall  waft 

Some  long-lost  exile  home  ! 

Da  Costa  listened  to  these  lines  ;  then,  raising  high  his 
arm,  he  uttered  a  prayer  of  monthly  observance  in  the 
synagogue,  and  his  voice  sounded  far  over  the  rocky  plain 
on  which  they  had  halted : 

"  Comfort,  0  Lord  our  God  !  the  mourners  of  Zion, 
and  the  mourners  of  Jerusalem,  the  city  that  mourns, 
which  also  lays  waste  and  is  destroyed  ;  reproached  and 
desolate:  who  mourns  for  the  sake  of  her  children,  that 
IS  solitary  for  her  inhabitants,  robbed  of  her  honor,  deso- 
late without  the  inhabitants  of  her  dwellers;  with  her 
head  ashamed,  like  unto  a  barren  woman  that  beareth  not. 
She  is  overwhelmed  with  sorrow  because  her  inheritors 
are  worshippers  of  images,  who  smote  thy  people  Israel 
with  the  sword,  and  slew  wilfully  the  saints  of  the  Most 
High.  Therefore  Zion  with  bitterness  weepeth,  and  Je- 
rusalem lifteth  up  her  voice.  O,  my  heart !  my  heart 
grieveth  for  those  that  were  slain  ;  0,  my  bowels,  my 
bowels,  for  those  that  were  killed ;  for  thou,  O  Lord,  with 
fire  hast  consumed  it,  and  with  fire  thou  wilt  again  rebuild 
it ;  as  it  is  written.  For  1,  saith  the  Lord,  will  be  to  her  a 
wall  of  fire  round  about  it,  and  v/ill  be  glory  in  the  midst 
of  her.  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord  !  the  Comforter  of  Zion, 
and  the  Builder  of  Jerusalem  !"  Alick,  who  had  risen 
and  stood  to  join  in  this  prayer,  now  loudly  and  fervently 
ejaculated  with  him  the  response : — 

"Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord;  who  rebuildest  Jerusa- 
lem I"* 

•  DaUy  Prayers  of  the  German  and  Polish  Jews,  p.  33^ 


XUDAIl's    LION.  231 

They  went  on  their  way,  and  they  went  with  songs  of 
praise  and  supplication,  for  Captain  Ryan  joined  the  two 
Hebrews  in  chanting,  in  their  own  sublime  language, 
6ome  of  the  Psalms  so  dear  to  them,  constantly  used  in 
the  Sabbath  service,  from  the  95th  to  the  lOOth.  And 
then,  as  they  approached  closer  to  the  walls.  Da  Costa 
and  Alick  burst  forth  again  into  another  of  their  sacred 
chants. 

"  O  thou  sanctuary  of  the  King !  O  Royal  City ! 
Arise  and  come  forth  from  thy  subversion  ;  thou  hast 
dwelt  long  enough  in  the  abode  of  calamity,  for  he  will 
now  pity  thee  with  kindness.  Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet 
the  bride. 

"  Shake  off  the  dust,  arise,  O  my  people  !  and  adorn 
thyself  with  thy  beautiful  attire  ;  for  by  the  hand  of  Jesse 
the  Bethlehemite  redemption  drawelh  nigh  to  my  soul. 
Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

"  Rouse  thyself ;  rouse  thyself ;  Arise,  shine,  for  thy 
light  is  come.  Awake,  awake,  utter  a  song  ;  for  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  is  revealed  upon  thee.  Come,  my  beloved,  to 
the  bride. 

"  Be  not  ashamed,  neither  be  thou  confounded.  O  Je- 
rusalem, why  art  thou  cast  down  1  why  art  thou  disqui- 
etedl  In  thee  the  poor  of  my  people  shall  take  refuge, 
and  the  city  shall  be  built  on  her  own  heap.  Come,  my 
beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

"  They  who  spoil  thee  shall  become  a  spoil  j  and  they 
that  swallow  thee  up  shall  be  removed  far  away  ;  thy  God 
will  rejoice  in  thee  as  the  bridegroom  rejoiceth  in  the 
bride.     Come,  ray  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

"  On  the  right  and  on  the  left  wilt  thou  be  extended, 
and  the  Eternal  wilt  thou  revere  ;  through  the  means  of  a 
man,  the  descendant  of  Pliarez,  will  we  rejoice  and  be 
glad.     Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

"  0  come  in  peace,  thou  crown  of  thy  Husband  ;  also 


232  JUDAHS   LlOH. 

with  joy  and  mirth,  in  the  midst  of  the  faithful  and  be- 
loved people.  Enter,  O  bride.  Enter,  O  bride  !  ComCj 
my  beloved,  to  meet  thy  bride."* 

Deep  was  the  heart-breathed  melody  of  the  two  voices 
that  with  rapid,  yet  most  clear  and  emphatic  utterance, 
chanted  forth  these  glowing  aspirations,  their  counte*' 
nances  lighted  up  by  the  lofty  theme,  and  the  beloved 
city  full  before  them.  In  heart  and  soul,  though  not  au- 
dibly, their  Gentile  friends  accompanied  the  song ;  and 
even  Charley  was  able  to  do  so  ;  for  he  had  many  and 
many  a  time  read  it  to  his  mamma  in  English  and  she  to 
him  in  Hebrew*  As  the  last  rich  tone  died  away,  they 
were  close  to  the  walls  of  the  city  ;  and  at  that  moment 
appeared  on  the  platform  of  a  lofty  minaret,  a  Muezzim, 
who  proclaimed  in  the  usual  loud  voice  of  his  office, 
"  There  is  but  one  God,  and  Mahomet  is  his  prophet." 
The  words  were  Arabic  :  with  what  sickening  effect  they 
fell  on  the  ears  of  those  travellers  may  be  imagined. 
The  color  mounted  high  in  Captain  Ryan's  face,  while 
Da  Costa's  became  livid  ;  and  his  countenance  assumed 
an  expression  of  which  it  seemed  scarcely  capable  before. 
The  ghastly  blue  of  his  lips  as  they  parted  upon  his 
clenched  teeth,  the  fierce  scowl  that  overhung  his  up- 
turned eye,  were  absolutely  terrific  ;  but  this  was  mo- 
mentary, and  it  gave  place  to  an  expression  of  the  bitter- 
est sorrow.  Alick's  look,  on  the  contrary,  was  one  of  such 
undisguised  menace  that  it  alarmed  the  Armenian,  who 
rode  near  him,  and  induced  a  whisper  of  caution,  which 
would  have  been  little  heeded,  had  not  Captain  Ryan  en- 
forced it  for  Charley's  sake.  The  boy  had  never  with* 
drawn  his  gaze  from  the  city  walls,  except  to  turn  it 
for  a  moment  on  his  friend,  who  possessed  in  an  eminent 
degree  that  general  gift  of  his  people,  a  rich  melodious 

•  Daily  Prayers  of  the  German  and  Polish  Jews,  p.  58. 


judah's  lion.  233 

voice.     They  were  now  close  to  the  gate,  and  with  won- 
dering awe-struck  eye  the  child  looked  up  to  the  summit 
of  the  square  tower  of  which  it  forms  a  part.      The  im- 
*posir)g  effect  of  those  stern-looking  walls  and  embattled 
turrets  seemed  to  overcome  not  only  him  but  his  mother  ; 
and  Alick,  as  he  proudly  measured  with  his  eye  the  height 
of  the  barriers,  seemed  to  forget  the  preceding  moment's 
armoyance.     He  was  not  prepared  to  see  in  his  desolate 
Zion  such  massive  fortifications,  so  many  munitions  of  war. 
His  imagination  had  rather  pictured  the  half-built  wall  on 
which,  in  the  derisive  language  of  Nehemiah's  opposers, 
if  a  fox  but  went  up  he  should  break  it  down  ;  those  martial 
ramparts,  as  they  towered   high   above   his   head,  awoke 
within  his  bosom  a  response  characteristic  of  the  naturally 
impetuous  and  fiery  youth.     That  innate  sense  of  actual 
rio-ht  and  proprietorship  with  which  the  Jew  looks  upon 
every  stone,  not  only  of  the  city  but  of  the  whole  land, 
filled  his  mind  5  and  the  feeling  was  as  though  he  were 
about  to  demand  from  the  paynim  usurper  a  surrender  of 
that  to  which  he  himself  could  advance  an  indisputable 
title  ;  and  to  compel  the  other  Gentile  strangers, — in  prac- 
tice   farther  removed  from   scriptural  customs   than  the 
Moslem  himself,  though  professing  to  hold  the  only  true 
faith — to  evacuate  that  hallowed  spot,  doubly  polluted  by 
their  idolatries. 


21 


CHAPTER   XVII 


Who  shall  describe  the  feelings  of  Alick  Cohen  when  he 
found  himself  actually  entering  the  city  of  Jerusalem ! 
Their  path  lay  near  that  citadel,  which  rises,  a  cluster  of 
stately  towers,  a  little  to  the  right ;  and  in  wonder  he 
raised  his  eyes  to  the  mighty  proportions  of  that  tower  of 
Hippicus  which  dates  from  the  days  of  Herod  ;  and  as  a 
military  guard  emerged  from  its  dark  walls  to  relieve  that 
which  had  charge  of  the  gate,  the  fire  of  his  glance  was 
again  kindled,  and  the  thought  passed  through  his  mind, 
'  I  fancied  Jerusalem  a  heap  of  ruins — how  different  it  is  ! 
Oh  for  a  storming  party  of  the  sons  of  Jacob  to  carry 
these  fortifications !  O  for  a  little  band  of  true  Israelites 
to  man  these  walls!  We  need  no  Nehemiah  to  build 
them  up,  for  they  are  in  noble  preservation  ;  and  what 
matter  if  another  Sennacherib  with  his  godless  host  en- 
camped without  them,  would  Israel  fear  1  would  the  lion 
of  Judah  quail  V  He  gazed  around  him  as  the  words  rose 
almost  to  his  lip,  and  encountered  the  eye  of  Da  Costa 
fixed  on  him  with  scrutinizing  earnestness,  and  an  expres- 
sion sternly  sad,  which  recalled  other  thoughts  of  national 
sin  and  national  chastisement,  so  often  the  theme  of  that 
noble  Jew's  discourse ;  but  the  longing  of  his  heart  was 
irrepressible,  the  current  of  his  fancy  could  not  be  turned. 
To  re-conquer  Jerusalem  seemed  an  enterprise  so  feasible, 


jtjdah's   lion.  235 

when  he  thought  of  the  number,  the  wealth,  the  moral  and 
physical  power  of  his  nation  scattered  over  the  whole  world, 
that  in  imagination  he  ah-eady  grasped  the  sword ;  already 
charged  through  those  narrow  streets,  and  drove  before 
him  the  mingled  rout  of  whom  a  stray  individual  only 
now  and  then  crossed  his  path,  with  loolc  so  vacant,  pace 
so  leisurely,  that  it  added  fuel  to  the  fire  of  his  excited 
spirits.  What  did  they  there  1  was  his  indignant  inquiry ; 
was  Zion  to  be  trodden  under  foot  by  such  as  they ! 

The  thread  of  his  thoughts  was  suddenly  broken  by 
an  exclamation  in  English,  '  Is  it  possible  !'  and  in  a  mo- 
ment a  gentleman  sprang  towards  the  Ryans,  who  on  their 
part  returned  his  greeting  most  joyously.  A  few  words 
sufficed  for  explanation,  their  course  was  altered  ;  and  af- 
ter traversing  a  narrower  street  they  stopped  at  the  door 
of  a  respectable  house,  and  the  stranger,  lifting  Mrs.  Ryan 
from  her  horse,  said,  '  This  is  your  home  ;  a  place  desti- 
tute indeed  of  all  that  we  account  conveniences  j  but  oh, 
it  is  in  a  spot  hallowed  by  the  footsteps  of  Him  who  had 
not  where  to  lay  his  head  !' 

Charley  was  now  resigned  by  Da  Costa  to  the  arms  of 
his  father,  in  a  dozing  state  that  seemed  to  promise  re- 
freshing sleep.  Captain  Ryan,  as  he  took  him,  turned  to 
the  stranger,  and  said,  '  Moore,  these  are  two  Hebrew 
friends  to  whom  I  and  mine  are  more  indebted  than  1 
have  words  to  tell.' 

The  Missionary,  for  such  he  was,  though  only  at  that 
time  a  temporary  dweller  in  the  Holy  City,  bowed  low, 
and  said  that  in  truth  and  sincerity  he  should  deem  it 
an  honor  to  receive  them  under  his  roof ;  only  regretting 
that  its  limited  space  would  not  afford  more  than  one 
apartment  for  the  accommodation  of  his  friends.  To  this 
Da  Costa  returned  a  courteous  assurance  that  he  and  Alick 
were  secure  of  good  quarters;  that  he  rejoiced  in  the 
jiiore  suitable  lodging  thus  provided  for  Mrs.  Ryan  and 


236  jitdah's  lion. 

her  child  ;  and  that  they  would  gladly  avail  themselves  of 
his  permission  to  look  in  on  their  friends  after  makino- 
some  necessary  arrangements.  They  then  relinquished 
their  horses  to  the  guides,  and  struck  off  into  another 
street. 

'  Now,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa,  affectionately  pressing 
the  arm  that  was  linked  in  his,  '  you  really  must  restrain 
yourself  a  little.     This  is  not  London.' 

'  I  know  that  right  well.  Da  Costa  ;  every  pulse  in  my 
heart,  every  sinew  in  my  body,  every  breath  of  my  life 
proclaims — This  is  Jerusalem  !' 

'  Softly  !'  returned  the  other,  as  he  strove  to  moderate 
the  pace  of  Alick's  stride,  '  you  will  attract  attention,  and 
be  forced  in  the  darkness  of  some  prison-cell  to  realize 
the  galling  fact,  that  here  in  our  own  glorious  city,  other 
lords  beside  the  God  of.Israel  have  dominion  over  us.' 

'Aye,  Da  Costa,  but  why  should  they  '?  Are  we  not 
able  to  dispute  possession  of  this  place  1  Is  it  not  our 
own  1  and  if  so,  could  we  not  soon,  very  soon  wrest  it 
from  the  hands  of .' 

Da  Costa  interrupted  him ;  '  The  Lord  our  God  hath 
not  yet  arisen  for  the  scattering  of  his  enemies.  Of  our- 
selves we  can  do  nothing  ;  or  if  we  could,  if  even  we  at 
this  hour  held  possession,  as  those  scoundrels  now  do,  of 
the  city  and  the  land,  what  would  it  avail  us,  so  long  as 
Israel's  King  acknowledged  us  not  1  Ah,  Cohen,  it  was 
not  in  her  towers  and  bulwarks  that  Zion  gloried,  but  be- 
cause God  was  known  in  her  palaces  as  a  sure  refuge  ;  it 
was  not  the  flashing  of  the  scimeter  that  bespoke  her 
safely  guarded,  but  the  dazzling  light  of  the  Shechinah 
shining  above  the  mercy-seat.  It  was  not  to  the  shout  of 
armed  men,  that  she  owed  her  assurance  of  victory,  but 
to  the  still  small  voice  of  divine  inspiration,  speaking  to 
the  soul,  and  again  by  the  lip  of  her  prophets.     Would 


judah's  lion.  SS*? 

you  care  to  dwell  in  the  city  of  your  fathers,  unowned  by 
the  God  of  your  fathers,  Alick  Cohen  1' 

'  No  5  but  why  should  we  doubt  his  love  to  Israel,  his 
readiness  to  receive  again,  and  again  to  bless  his  own 
people  V  said  Alick. 

'  I  cannot  answer  that  question  :  but  I  am  taking  you 
to  a  scene  that  will,  at  any  rate,  impress  you  with  present 
realities,  combined  with  a  heart-rending  memorial  of  the 
past.  We  are  now,'  he  added,  'treading  on  the  verge  of 
Zion.  You  know  the  ancient  walls  enclosed  a  much 
larger  space  than  these  do;  they  comprehended  the  whole 
of  Mount  Zion  ;  but  of  that  only  a  portion  is  now  includ- 
ed in  the  city.  We  press  it  at  this  moment:  these  are 
the  stones,  this  the  dust  of  Zion — the  dust  in  which  her 
glory  and  honor  are  laid  !' 

Alick  stooped,  and  picked  up  a  small  stone,  which  he 
kissed,  and  holding  it  in  his  clasped  hand  said,  '  I  value 
it  above  all  the  gems  in  the  regal  crowns  of  all  earth's 
monarchs.' 

'  So  do  I  ;  but  now  I  have  a  different  and  more  deplor- 
able ruin  to  point  out  to  you  ;  down  yonder  is  the  Jews' 
quarter.' 

'  There  !  Are  those  filthy  hovels  the  dwellings  of  our 
people  at  Mount  Zion  V 

'Aye,  and  those  more  miserable  poverty-stricken  ob- 
jects are  the  seed  of  Abraham,  the  children  of  the  pro- 
phets, the  people  to  whom  God  gave  this  land,  and  whom 
he  made  a  terror  to  the  whole  earth.  To  this  wretched 
corner  are  they  restricted  by  the  authority  of  those  who 
rule  the  land :  but  I  am  not  going  to  penetrate  it  now  ; 
come  down  this  narrow  lane  ;  I  will  show  you  the  highest 
privilege  enjoyed  by  our  nation,  and  for  which  they  pay 
a  heavy  price  to  the  domineering  heathen.' 

The  road  along  which  they  passed  was  narrow,  dirty, 
and  obscure  :  it  issued  at  last  in  an  open  space,  where 
21* 


238  JTJDAll's  LION. 

rose  a  high  blank  wall,  of  very  ancient  appearance.  Here 
sat  three  or  four  men,  chiefly  aged,  their  apparel  poor,  but 
studiously  neat  and  clean,  their  countenances  worn  with 
care  and  toil,  and  their  voices  joining  in  a  low,  tremulous 
chant,  the  sorrowful,  dirge-like  tones  of  which  were  the 
most  melancholy  the  young  man  had  ever  heard.  Tears 
were  rolling  down  their  cheeks,  and  moistening  the  long 
beards  of  the  old  men  ;  and  something  like  fear  was  in  the 
hasty  glance  with  which  they  surveyed  the  approaching 
strangers.  '  Go,  and  speak  to  them,'  whispered  Da  Costa, 
in  a  voice  of  deep  emotion,  while  he  averted  his  face ; 
'speak  in  our  own  hallowed  tongue.' 

Alick  approached  ;  one  old  man  held  a  worn  and  soiled 
book  in  his  hand,  which  he  saw  was  the  Psalms  of  David 
in  Hebrew.  He  stooped,  and  addressed  them  in  the  lan- 
guage of  their  prophet ;  "  Ye  that  make  mention  of  the 
Lord  keep  not  silence,  and  give  him  no  rest,  till  he 
establish,  and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  whole 
earth." 

Gazing  up  in  astonishment  at  the  bright  countenance 
of  their  young  brother,  the  poor  men  seized  his  hands 
and  the  skirts  of  his  coat,  kissed  them,  and  with  a  fresh 
burst  of  tears,  replied  in  the  words  of  their  melancholy 
hymn,  one  saying,  in  slow  recitative,  and  the  others  re- 
sponding in  the  same  tone, 

"  We  sit  alone  and  weep." 

Alick  was  presently  on  the  ground  among  them,  asking 
questions  w'ith  an  eagerness  that  outran  his  acquaintance 
with  the  language,  and  required  the  frequent  assistance  of 
his  friend.  They  told  him  that  the  wall  under  which 
they  sat  contained  a  fragment  of  the  ancient  masonry  of 
their  city,  and  bounded  the  space  occupied  by  Solomon's 
temple  :  that  they  purchased  from  the  Turkish  governor 
permission  to  approach  it  once  every  week,  and  there 


judah's  lion.  239 

they  assembled,  to  weep  over  the  past,  and  to  pray  for  the 
future.  It  was  late  in  the  day ;  the  greater  number  had 
returned  home,  but  they  could  not  leave  the  spot  while 
the  privileged  time  of  remaining  there  was  unexpired.  In 
answer  to  Alick's  earnest  inquiry  whether  they  did  not 
expect  to  see  Jerusalem  delivered  from  all  intruders,  and 
the  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel  re-established,  and  the 
tribes  restored,  they  answered,  '  Not  in  our  day  ;  not  in 
our  day.' 

'  Why  not  1  our  prayers  and  our  hymns  repeat  the 
supplication,  "  In  haste,  in  haste,  in  our  day  ;  speedily 
speedily ;  Lord  build,  Lord  build,  build  thy  temple  speedi- 
ly !"  When  you  ask,  why  don't  you  believe  that  you 
shall  receive  what  you  ask  for "?  that  is  the  way  to  get  it.' 
Alick  forgot  that  he  was  quoting  the  New  Testament. 

*  We  have  asked,  and  our  fathers  have  asked,  and  our 
children  shall  ask  ;  but  the  time  is  not  come.  We  shall 
weep  and  wail  in  this  holy  place,  as  did  our  fathers,  and 
as  also  shall  our  children.     The  time  is  not  yet.' 

'How  do  you  know  that  it  is  not  yet  1  how  do  you 
know  that  you  would  fail,  if,  like  Nehemiah,  you  should 
say,  "  The  God  of  heaven  he  will  prosper  us ;  therefore 
we  his  servants  will  arise  and  build."  '  The  Jews  shook 
their  heads :  one  answered,  '  Nehemiah  had  the  king's 
license  and  protection  ;  and  the  proclamation  had  gone 
forth :  but  we,  we  have  no  king's  hand  stretched  out  to 
our  rescue,  and  the  rescue  of  our  city,  and  the  rescue  of 
our  people  :'  and  again  he  took  up  the  strain, 

"  On  account  of  the  Temple  which  is  destroyed." 

and  the  others  answered, 

"  We  sit  alone  and  weep." 

Da  Costa  now  spoke,  '  If  a  man  of  zeal  and  courage,  hav- 
ing the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  Israel,  having  also 


the  heart  of  David,  and  the  sword  of  Gideon,  were  to 
arise,  saying  to  Jerusalem,  Thou  shalt  be  built,  and  to  the 
Temple,  Thy  foundation  shall  be  laid — what  if  such  a 
champion  came  forward,  and  called  upon  the  holy  people 
to  aid  him  in  the  enterprise  V 

'  He  would  not  succeed,'  answered  the  old  men,  sor- 
rowfully :  '  our  enemies  are  many,  and  mighty,  and 
strong  5  cruel  lords  rule  over  us,  and  deliverance  is  far 
off;  and  the  champion  you  speak  of  would  die  with  the 
slain.' 

Alick  was  about  to  speak  again,  but  Da  Costa,  seeing 
some  military  guards  approach,  and  anxious  to  spare  his 
young  friend  the  farther  pain  and  irritation  of  witnessing 
some  insult  or  injury  inflicted  on  the  poor  Jews  for  out- 
staying perhaps  their  precise  moment,  hastened  him 
away.  As  they  walked  on,  he  said,  '  "  Terror  of  heart"  is 
among  the  threatened  punishments  to  be  poured  out  upon 
our  people  :  and,  in  this  instance,  you  perceive  its  effect. 
If  there  be  a  place  under  heaven  where  the  Jew  must  feel 
himself  a  Jew,  and  be  kindled  into  daring  thoughts,  and 
brood,  if  he  may  do  no  more,  over  imaginary  deeds  of 
rescuing  prowess,  surely  it  is  here,  in  the  midst  of  Jeru- 
salem, under  the  very  walls  of  our  holy  Temple,  over 
which  gleams  the  impious  crescent  of  the  haughty  Mos- 
lem !  while  the  drivelling  mummeries  of  those  friarly 
idolators  pollute  a  spot  by  them  deemed  more  holy  than 
the  Mahommedan  deems  his  mosque.  But  you  see  how 
it  is :  not  even  a  thought  of  daring  is  kindled  here  in  the 
bosom  of  fallen  Israel.' 

'  If  you  could  read  ray  thoughts,  you  would  not  say 


so.' 


'  I  did  not  allude  to  you,  but  to  those  who,  dwelling  in 
the  very  place,  are  more  than  submissive  to  their  own  and 
their  city's  degradation.  They  feel,  perhaps  without 
knowing  it,  what  I  know  without  always  feeling  it,  that 


judah's  lion.  241 

the  blight  which  makes  barren  the  land  of  Judea,  the  deso- 
lation that  has  crumbled  these  fragments  beneath  our  feet, 
lies  heavily  upon  the  minds  and  spirits  of  her  children. 
They  of  whom,  while  the  Lord  was  their  God,  one  could 
chase  a  thousand  and  two  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,  now 
experience  the  bitter  reverse  "  at  the  rebuke  of  one  shall 
ye  flee."     As  it  was  spoken,  so  has  it  come  to  pass.' 

He  was  silent  for  a  moment,  then  resumed,  '  I  never 
speak  thus  in  the  presence  of  a  Gentile,  Cohen  ;  neither 
would  I  now  so  damp  your  generous  enthusiasm  but  to 
show  you  the  hopeless  folly  of  looking  to  man.  I  was 
once  like  you  ;  and  to  such  a  pitch  were  my  feelings 
roused,  that  I  almost  formed  apian  for  commencing  such 
a  movement  as  you  dream  of;  but,  studying  our  holy  law 
for  the  record  of  Israel's  ancient  daring,  I  too  plainly  saw 
that  of  their  ancient  rebellion  ;  and  tracing  the  history  of 
our  nation,  looking  upon  the  people  in  the  state  to  which 
we  find  the  great  bulk  of  them  reduced,  and  contrasting 
our  present  devotion  to  the  Holy  One  with  what  he  has 
required  of  us,  I  became  convinced  that  a  general  turning 
unto  him  was  needful  before  he  would  return  unto  us : 
and  that  to  seek  the  restored  possession  of  this  our  land 
without  the  Divine  presence,  which  made  it  the  glory  of 
all  lands,  would  be  to  render  our  fallen  condition  more 
miserably  conspicuous  than  it  has  ever  yet  been.' 

'  But  how  are  we  fallen,'  said  Alick,  '  except  as  regards 
^our  exile  and  dispersion,  a  return  from  which  would  set 
us  all  right  again  V 

'  What  I  mean  is  this  :  our  fathers  came  up  out  of 
Egypt,  and  took  possession  of  this  land,  driving  out  be- 
fore them  many  nations,  stronger  and  greater  than  they  : 
alike  in  their  first  settlement  here,  and  in  the  rebuilding  of 
this  our  royal  city  after  the  Babylonish  captivity,  the 
Lord  wrought  with  our  fathers  in  the  eyes  of  the  world, 
so  that  they  bore  down  all  opposition,  and  became  a  ter- 


242  jtjdah's  lion. 

ror  to  the  whole  earth.  This  we  have  in  our  book,  which 
forms,  as  you  know,  the  Bible  of  the  Gentile  world,  and 
every  child  is  conversant  with  our  history  ;  and  the  Jews, 
proceeding  once  more  to  recover  possession  of  the  land 
of  Canaan,  and  to  re-establish  their  seat  of  government  in 
Jerusalem,  would  have  on  them  the  eyes  of  all,  from  the 
throne  and  senate  to  the  nursery.  Moreover,  against  us 
would  be  leagued  almost  all  nations;  and  nothing  short  of 
Almighty  aid  could  give  us  success.  Destitute  of  such 
aid  we  should  be  baffled,  defeated  :  and  mark  me,  Cohen  ! 
Israel's  defeat  would  not  be  measured  by  the  common 
chances  of  war  ;  no,  it  would  be  measured  by  our  own 
stupendous  victories  of  other  times;  and  down,  down  to 
the  very  depths  of  scorn  should  we  sink,  annihilated  be- 
neath the  load  of  scoffing  reproach  !' 

'  But  are  we  not  to  be  restored  1  Is  not  the  promise 
certain  1' 

*  It  is  as  fixed  a  certainty  as  that  we,  even  Israel,  once 
possessed  this  spot  whereon  1  now  stamp  my  foot ;  but 
the  elements  of  such  a  restoration  are  not  in  our  own 
body  as  at  present  constituted.  God  must  first  arise,  and 
his  presence  must  go  before  us.  The  standard  must  be 
hoisted,  the  trumpet  must  be  blown,  but  not  by  ourselves. 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  my  inmost  soul  longs  for  him,  Mes- 
siah Ben-David ;  the  deliverer  of  my  people  !' 

Alick  almost  started :  the  point  at  which  Da  Costa  had 
arrived  was  precisely  that  at  which  a  Christian  would 
have  met  him  with  the  gospel  of  salvation  :  and,  unaccus- 
tomed to  disguise,  he  at  once  spoke  his  thought — '  You  are 
speaking  of  Israel's  sin  as  the  cause  of  God's  prolonged 
anger :  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the  person  who  comes  to 
deliver  us  must  be  able  to  appease  that  anger  by  atoning 
for  the  sin.  What  atonement  will  Messiah  Ben-David 
make  for  us,  unless  he  be,  as  the  Christians  assert,  a  di» 


judah's  lion.  243 

vine  person,  and  one  who  has  offered  a  sacrifice  for  the 
sins  of  the  people,  by  dying  for  them  V 

The  look  of  scrutiny  that  his  companion  fixed  on  him 
would  have  caused  many  an  eye  to  quail,  but  Alick's  chang- 
ed not :  he  endured  the  stern  gaze,  and  then  repeated, 
'  How  do  you  explain  this  matter  V 

'  I  am  no  Rabbi,'  answered  Da  Costa,  '  to  solve  subtle 
questions  in  divinity  :  yet  alas  !  Israel  is  so  fallen,  that  here, 
here  in  Jerusalem  ;  here,  where  stood  the  Temple  of  the 
Lord,  filled  by  the  glory  of  the  unapproachable  Presence, 
Vhile  from  its  altars  ascended  the  flame  of  accepted  sacri- 
fices, and  amid  the  breathings  of  sacred  incense  came  the 
felt  voice  of  the  Holy  One,  making  revelation  of  the  Eter- 
nal will  to  the  high  priest ; — here,  in  this  Jerusalem, 
where  came  the  princes  and  counse  lors  of  other  lands  to 
learn  wisdom  at  the  lip  of  Israel's  king — here,  in  this  Je- 
rusalem, a  Jew,  as  by  sufferance  he  steals  along  the  street, 
may  propound  doctrines  subversive  of  our  holy  religion, — 
questions,  the  very  uttering  of  which  is,  by  the  law  of 
Moses,  punishable  with  death  ;  and  find  none  to  answer 
him!' 

'  You  mistake  me,'  answered  Alick,  warmly  ;  '  my  re- 
mark implied  nothing  inconsistent  with  our  divine  faith.' 

'  Pardon  me  ;  it  implied  the  assumed  possibility  that  a 
man  who,  on  this  very  ground' — and  he  stamped  fiercely 
as  he  said  it — '  suffered  a  felon's  death,  may  have  been 
even  one  with  God  ;  may  be  an  object  of  the  faith,  and 
the  worship,  and  the  service,  which  to  render  to  a  created 
being  is  most  damnable  idolatry.' 

'  There  lies  the  gist  of  the  matter.  Da  Costa  :  according 
to  your  view,  Christianity  is  necessarily  idolatrous ;  but 
according  to  theirs — and  they  ought  to  know  best  what 
they  themselves  believe — it  is  perfectly  consistent  with 
our  doctrine  of  the  eternal  Unity.  They  profess  not  only 
to  found  their  system  on  our  Scriptures,  but  to  reject 


244  judah's  lion. 

whatever  is  not  in  accordance  with  them.  Now,  as  rea- 
sonable men,  why  should  we  refuse  to  search  out  the  mat- 
ter, or  at  least  to  talk  it  quietly  over  V 

'  I  will  tell  you  why  :  Moses  writes  thus,   concerning 
the  Gentile  forms  of  worship — "  Take   heed  to   thyself 
that  thou  be  not  snared  by  following  them  ........ 

and  that  thou  inquire  not  after  their  gods,  saying,  How 
did  these  nations  serve  their  gods  1  Even  so  will  I  do 
likewise."  Now  your  plan  of  inquiry  militates  against 
this  command.' 

'  No,'  remarked  Alick,  '  for  the  question  is  not  how  do» 
the  Christians  serve  their  God,  but,  is  it  indeed  God  whom 
they  serve,  or  are  they  idolators  V 

Again  Da  Costa  bent  on  him  a  look  of  severe  scrutiny ; 
but  his  open  brow,  and  the  boyish  naivete  that  marked  his 
manner,  seemed  to  disarm  the  resentful  Jew.  After  a  mo- 
ment's thought,  he  said,  '  Well,  this  matter  may  rest  for 
the  present.  I  am  going  to  secure  our  quarters  at  the 
hospice  attached  to  the  Latin  Convent.  That  being 
done,'— 

'  It  will  be  done  for  yourself  alone,'  interrupted  Alick^ 
crimsoning  with  indignation.  '  Sooner  will  I  rest  on  the 
bare  soil,  or  pillow  my  head  like  our  father  Jacob,  against 
some  fragment  of  those  grey  stones  which  girdled  in  the 
glorious  and  beautiful  house  of  God,  than  roll  in  the 
downiest  bed  a  Gentile  could  smoothe  for  me  here  !  In 
the  Jews'  quarter,  by  the  Mount  Zion,  and  nowhere  else, 
will  I  accept  a  lodging :  if  none  of  my  own  people  will 
spare  me  a  sheltered  corner  under  their  roof,  t  en  the  ca- 
nopy of  heaven  for  me  !' 

'  You  paradoxical  fellow,'  said  Da  Costa,  whose  heart 
bounded  to  hear  this  burst  of  nationality — '  how  could  I 
tell  that  you  preferred  mingling  your  drink  with  weeping 
among  the  heart-broken  children  of  Israel,  to  sharing  the 
comforts  of  a   well-furnished   room    and   good    cheer  1 


JUDAIl's    LION.  245 

Truth  to  speak,  I  meant  to  see  you  well  accommodated, 
as  an  English  traveller,  and  to  steal  away  myself  to  the 
Jewish  quarter.' 

'  Then  you  meditated  a  gross  insult,  and  a  very  cruel 
wrong  against  me,'  said  Alick,  in  a  more  intemperate 
manner  tlian  he  had  ever  yet  spoken. 

'  Perhaps  so,  but  I  meant  it  for  the  best ;  besides,'  he 
added  slily,  '  how  could  I  surmise  that  you,  who  appear  so 
anxious  to  investigate  the  theology  of  the  Gentiles,  would 
object  to  discussing  their  viands,  and  becoming  acquainted 
with  their  dormitories  V 

'  Oh,  don't  speak  so  lightly.  Da  Costa.  Surely  this  is 
no  place  to  jest  on  the  advantages  enjoyed  by  aliens  in  our 
holy  city  !' 

'  No,  Cohen  ;  nor  to  apostatize  to  the  sj'stem  of  dis- 
graceful superstitions  and  delusions  which  they  call  reli- 
gion. We'll  lodge  with  our  brethren,  and  forsake  not  the 
law  of  our  fathers,  whoever  wrests  away  their  land,  and 
usurps  their  place.' 

This  was  spoken  with  abundance  of  fire  ;  and  at  the 
same  moment  he  changed  his  course,  adding,  '  We  need 
give  no  previous  intimation  of  our  visit :  we  shall  be  well 
received  by  my  friend.  Shall  we  return  and  see  how 
that  dear  little  fellow  is  going  on  V 

They  did  so  ;  but  finding  that  Charley  was  in  a  com- 
fortable sleep,  while  his  parents  were  eagerly  listening  to 
the  recital  of  their  friend's  recent  adventures,  they  made 
but  a  short  stay,  and  again  sallied  forth  into  the  streets  of 
the  beloved  city. 

'  See,'  said  Da  Costa,  as  they  stepped  aside  to  avoid  a 
guard  of  the  swarthy  Egyptian  garrison  just  passing,  '  see 
how  the  ancient  ojipressors  of  our  people  again  lord  it  over 
us — not  as  of  old  in  their  own  dominions,  but  within  the 
walls  of  Jerusalem  ;  neither  is  it  Egypt  the  mightiest  of 
kingdoms,  but  Egypt  in  the  lowest  depth  of  degradation — 
22 


246  .■'udah's  Lioff. 

peopled  by  woman-hearted  poltroons,  governed  by  a  re- 
volted slave.' 

'  Yet  there  are  promises  for  Egypt,'  observed  Alick. 

'There  are;  and  the  time  draws  nigh  for  their  fulfil, 
ment.  I'm  glad  you  reminded  me  of  it:  "In  that  day 
shall  Israel  be  the  third  with  Egypt  and  with  Assyria, 
even  a  blessing  in  the  midst  of  the  land,  whom  the  Lord 
of  hosts  shall  bless,  saying.  Blessed  be  Egypt  my  people, 
and  Assyria  the  work  of  my  hands,  and  Israel  mine  inhe- 
ritance."    The  time  is  near  !' 

It  was  now  evening,  and  the  sun's  last  beams  rested 
gloriously  on  the  brow  of  that  three-capped  hill  which 
spreads  its  broad  rampart  along  the  eastern  side  of  the 
city.  'Look,'  said  Da  Costa,  'at  the  Mount  of  Olives j 
to-morrow  we  will  cross  that  deep  ravine,  the  valley  of 
Jehosaphat,  of  which  I  may  almost  say  the  very  soil  is 
composed  of  the  dust  of  our  buried  tribes,  and  we  will 
ascend  the  hill,  where  David  v/ent  up,  weeping  as  he 
went ;  and  from  its  height  we  will  take  a  survey  of  our 
own  city,  and  talk  of  what  yet  shall  be,  when  the  Lord 
ariseth  to  have  mercy  upon  his  Zion  !' 

Allck's  heart  swelled  with  emotions  for  which  he  could 
find  no  name.  Charley's  innocent  discourse,  so  wise  in 
its  baby  simplicity,  describing  the  Lord  Jesus  weeping 
ever  his  stubborn  Jerusalem  from  that  spot,  was  vividly 
remembered  ;  and  the  argument  that  had  followed  seemed 
to'  derive  additional  distinctness  from  the  sight  of  that  sa- 
cred hill.  In  silence  he  gazed  upon  it,  during  a  moment- 
ary pause  on  an  open  spot,  and  then  again  they  plunged 
into  the  narrow  streets  that  led  to  their  destination,  flanked 
on  either  side  by  those  blank  but  stately  walls  which  lent 
so  peculiar  an  aspect  to  the  city.  A  heap  of  rubbish  next 
lay  in  their  path,  as  they  passed  along  the  slope  of  Zion, 
and  Alick,  with  downcast  eyes,  stept  as  softly  as  though 
he  were  treading  on  flowers  which  he  feared  to  crush. 


judah's  lion,  247 

*  You  are  unusually  silent,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa  at  last. 

'  I  never  in  my  life  felt  such  a  dreadful  depression  of 
spirits,'  answered  he,  with  difficulty  restraining  his  tears. 
'  I  cannot  describe  it  to  you  :  my  heart  is  weighed  down, 
and  a  sort  of  dread  overshadows  me  ;  my  very  thoughts 
seem  spell-bound.  At  one  moment  I  could  almost  say. 
Take  me  hence  ;  but  the  prevailing  desire  of  my  soul  is 
never,  never  to  leave  this  spot  again.  O  to  sit  down  in 
the  dust,  the  dust  of  Zion  I  O  for  liberty  to  weep  and 
lament,  and  to  plead  with  him,  the  Holy  One,  for  pity — 
pity  upon  his  own  Jerusalem  !'  and  leaning  over  a  heap 
of  stones,  piled  breast-high  in  his  path,  he  buried  his  face 
in  his  h.ands,  and  suffered  the  tears  to  flow. 

'  You  shall  have  your  fill  of  weeping  and  lamentation,' 
said  D;i  Costa,  in  a  voice  that  bespoke  him  unusually  ao-i- 
tated,  '  but  not  here.  We  shall  presently  be  among  our 
own  people.     Come — I  like  not  to  linger  in  this  place.' 

'  Why  not  1     Is  it  not  Mount  Zion  V 

'  Yes ;  through  a  mistake  of  mine  in  talking  a  wrong 
turn,  we  are  on  the  acclivity  of  our  holy  mount,  and  a 
goodly  site  our  worthy  English  friends  have  chosen  for 
their  experimental  building.  These  things  are  collected 
for  the  erection  of  a  Gentile  church.' 

'  Jerusalem  is  full  of  them,'  said  Alick. 

'  Yes,  but  this  is  to  be  a  Protestant  one— a  rare  novelty 
to  be  sure !' 

He  spoke  scornfully  ;  but  Alick  exclaimed,  '  Why, 
then  it  will  be  the  best  of  all.' 

'And  therefore  in  one  sense  the  worst;  for  the  more 
attractively  error  arrays  itself,  the  more  dangerous.  It  is 
no  matter,'  he  added  haughtily  ;  '  let  them  build  ;  the 
time  is  near  when  every  abomination  shall  be  swept  away, 
and  the  pure  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel  in  all  its  ma- 
jestic splendor  be  re-established  here.' 

He  drew  Alick  away,  and  descending  again,  they  soon 
reached  the  quarter  alloted  to  the  Jews,  in  the  farther 


248  judah's  lion. 

part  of  which  they  entered  an  iron  door,  placed  like  others 
in  a  dead  wall,  and  found  themselves  in  a  tolerably  spa- 
cious court  belonging  to  a  substantial  house.  The  door 
was  opened  at  Da  Costa's  summons,  and  Alick  almost  drew 
back  in  surprise  at  the  scene  which  met  his  eye. 

The  apartment,  though  low,  was  of  good  dimensions  ; 
and  there,  ranged  along  the  sides,  on  handsome  though 
plain  divans,  he  beheld  a  number  of  females,  habited  in 
the  oriental  costume,  unveiled,  and  many  of  them  very 
beautiful.     Their  apparel  was  simple,  but  carefully  ar- 
ranged— in  one  or  two   instances   only  approaching  to 
richness.     The  rest  of  the  party  consisted  of  the  most  im- 
posingly striking  men  he  had  ever  seen   assembled.     Di- 
versified in  dress,  the   high  black  cap  with   a  band  of 
white  or  grey  muslin  predominated,  intermixed  with  tur- 
bans of  yellow,  and  some  few  plain  skull  caps.     They 
were  remarkably  handsome,  of  noble,  erect  figures,  except 
where  bowed  by  age,  and  all  bearded.    All  were  evidently 
dressed  to  the  extent  of  their  means,  but  poverty  was  ap- 
parent in  many  instances.     The  courtesy,  the  affectionate 
warmth  of  their  simultaneous  greeting,  soon  dispelled  from 
Alick's  mind  every  feeling  save  that  of  sympathy  ;  and 
the  familiar  tones  of  the  sacred  language,  which  seemed 
exclusively  to  prevail,  fell  not  only  on  his  ear  but  his 
heart.     He  was  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  and  all  a'Dout 
him  were  Jews.     Da  Costa,   who  had  easily  acquainted 
himself  with  every  turn  in  the  youth's  ingenuous  charac- 
ter, had  calculated  on  the   effect  of  such  a  meeting  to 
counteract  influence  which  he  greatly  dreaded  ;  and  their 
present  host,  one  of  the  most  zealous,  if  not  the  most  bi- 
goted of  his  race,  had  eagerly  entered  into  his  design.    His 
venerable  and  stately  appearance,  as  he  laid  his  hands  on 
Alick's  head,  and  pronounced  a  blessing,  filled  the  youth's 
heart  with  affectionate  awe ;  and  with  attention  keenly 
awake,  he  prepared  to  enjoy  that  evening's  important  pri- 
vileges. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


The  company  assembled  at  the  house  of  Da  Costa's 
friend,  consisting  principally  of  Jews  who,  on  the  tem- 
porary overthrow  of  the  Turkish  power  in  those  quarters, 
had  flocked  to  the  Holy  City,  having  more  reliance  on 
the  friendly  disposition  of  Mahomet  Ali  than  on  that  of 
the  Sultan.  They  were  in  far  better  circumstances  than 
their  resident  brethren,  whose  poverty  was  so  great  as  to 
render  them  dependent  on  the  contributions  of  the  more 
wealthy  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  whose  position  in 
their  ancient  city  forms  one  of  its  most  afflicting  features. 
The  present  party  seemed  under  the  impression  that  some 
signal  event  was  about  to  take  place,  some  very  important 
crisis  to  arrive  ;  and  although  they  bitterly  lamented  their 
dispersed,  depressed,  isolated  condition,  and  complained 
of  a  general  deadness  to  the  encouragements  that  passing 
events  held  out  to  their  nation,  still  it  was  apparent  that 
their  energies  were  in  a  measure  roused,  and  their  hopes 
excited.  Alick  heard  more  of  the  Talmud  and  the  opi- 
nions of  learned  men  than  he  had  yet  done  ;  and  far  less 
of  the  Scriptures  of  God  than  he  wished  to  hear;  and  he 
missed  that  delightful  branch  of  the  subject  which  Charley 
and  his  mother  had  made  so  prominent,  the  blessing  that 
Israel  should  convey  to  Gentile  nations ;  but  his  feelings 
22* 


250  judah's  lion. 

•were  deeply  interested,  and  gratified  too,  when,  looking 
round  on  the  company  of  Hebrew  men,  of  mothers  in 
Israel,  and  gentle  Jewish  maidens,  he  traced  the  high 
descent,  and  higher  destiny  of  his  people  ;  and  recollected 
that  howsoever  comparatively  depressed  and  obscure,  still 
they  were  met,  without  hindrance,  and  with  no  cause 
for  apprehension,  in  Jerusalem ;  and  contrasting  such 
privileges  with  the  stern  edicts  against  them  for  many 
and  many  an  age,  his  soul  welcomed  the  dawning  streak 
of  their  coming  day — a  day  of  prosperity,  triumph,  and 
peace. 

After  a  while,  a  feeling  remark  of  Da  Costa's  led  the 
conversation  to  the  indulgence  so  graciously  accorded  by 
the  infidel  lords  of  Jerusalem  to  her  original  race,  of  fre- 
quenting the  ruined  corner;  and  Alick  asked  whether  it 
was  really  a  fragment  of  the  ancient  city.    He  remembered 
not   only  the  prophet's  declaration  that  Zion  should  be 
ploughed  as  a  field,  but  also  that  of  One  whom  he  would 
not  then  have  named,  who  had  said,  that  of  the  great 
buildings  of  the  Temple  not  one  stone  should  be  left  on 
another;  and  he  strove   to  wish  that  the  word  of  Jesus 
might  not  have  come  to  pass.     He  was  answered  by  an 
old   man,  who  told  him   that  the   wall  in  question  had 
formed  part  of  the  outer  inclosure,  beyond  the  court  of 
the  Gentiles,  and  of  course  considerably  exterior  to  all 
that  pertained  to  the  Temple.     '  The  Holy  One,  (blessed 
be  He  !)  did  not  suffer  any  portion  of  that  sacred  building 
to  remain  for  the  heathen  to  pollute,'  said  the  aged  Jew ; 
'  Their  abomination  stands  indeed  upon  the  spot,  marking 
the  site  where  we  again  shall  rebuild   the  Temple,  after 
many  purifications  from  its  present  defilement ;  but  not  a 
stone  of  our  holy  and  beautiful  house  have  the  hands  of 
the  accursed  been  permitted  to  grasp.     Yea,  the  magni- 
ficent stones  were   ground   into*  dust,   by  the   merciful 


JUDAU'S  LION.  251 

severity  of  the  Most  High,  to  preserve  them  from  the  dis- 
honor of  helping  to  construct  a  house  of  Belial.' 

'  Then  he  spoke  truly,'  thought  Alick  j  '  and  it  was 
a  daring  prediction  for  uninspired  man  to  utter,  seeing 
how  desirable  to  the  conqueror  must  have  been  the  pre- 
servation of  so  noble,  so  unrivalled  an  edifice.  Was  he 
not  a  prophet  1'  and  the  question  so  entirely  occupied  his 
mind,  that  he  lost  a  good  deal  of  the  conversation  which 
ensued,  until  the  name  of  a  missionary,  of  whom  he  had 
often  heard  Captain  Ryan  speak,  caught  his  ear,  and  he 
listened  eagerly,  '  I  went  to  his  room,'  said  one  of  the 
party,  '  and  would  have  disputed  with  him,  but  we  could 
find  no  common  ground  to  stand  on.  I  brought  to  my 
aid  the  learned  commentaries  of  our  chief  Rabbins, — 
blessed  be  their  memories !  but  he  insisted  on  Scripture 
alone  as  the  arbiter  in  all  doubtful  matters,  and  after 
various  meetings  we  found  it  useless  to  proceed.' 

'  Even  without  the  commentaries  of  the  learned,  you 
might  have  silenced  him,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 

'No:  for  there  are  mysteries  that  require  explaining, 
and  he  would  show  them  to  be  unravelled  by  the  doctrine 
of  the  crucified  Nazarene.  How  could  I  meet  him  but 
with  the  explanations  given  by  our  wise  men  1  How 
could  I  know  the  mind  of  Him  who  wrote,  save  by  the 
interpretation  of  those  who  were  inspired  with  under- 
standing to  discover  it  V 

The  rest  assented ;  and  several  being  present  who  were 
teachers,  together  with  many  learners  of  the  Talmud,  a 
discourse  ensuetl  on  the  various  significations  given  by 
ancient  doctors  to  some  passages,  apparently  too  clear  to 
require  any  comment ;  some  of  whose  views  were  so 
absurd,  their  remarks  so  childish,  and  their  observances 
thereupon  so  exceedingly  vain  and  superstitious,  that 
Alick  was  no  less  mortified  than  amazed  at  hearing  them 
descanted  on  as   master-pieces  of  super-human  wisdom. 


252  judah's   lion. 

He  became  tired,  and  almost  irritated  at  the  endless  myS' 
ticisms  he  was  compelled  to  listen  to,  and  longed  for  a 
place  beside  some  of  the  unassuming  females  of  the  party ; 
but  such  a  move  he  did  not  venture  to  make,  being  seated 
in  the  midst  of  the  learned  speakers,  to  whom  he  felt 
bound  to  pay  every  respect.  Turning  his  head,  however, 
he  beheld,  a  little  in  the  rear,  one  of  the  old  men  he  had 
seen  at  the  place  of  wailing,  who  was  quietly  perusing 
his  book,  half  concealed  in  the  folds  of  his  robe;  and 
whose  countenance,  mild,  sorrowful,  and  humble,  at- 
tracted him.  An  opportunity  occurring  to  fall  back  a 
little,  Alick  soon  contrived  to  be  on  a  line  with  this  aged 
Jew,  and  sutficiently  apart  from  the  rest  to  converse  un- 
noticed. The  other,  aware  of  his  approach,  and  of  the 
wistful  look  with  which  he  eyed  him,  spoke  not,  but 
quietly  offered  a  share  in  his  book,  which  Alick  most 
gratefully  accepted,  and  drawing  closer  to  the  old  man, 
read  with  him  the  remainder  of  the  hundred  and  thirty- 
sixth  Psalm,  after  which  they  commenced  the  one  follow- 
ing. "  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon  there  we  sat  down  ;  yea, 
we  wept,  when  we  remembered  Zion."  The  old  Hebrew's 
heavy  sighs  went  to  Alick's  heart,  and  when  he  saw  a 
tear  fall  on  the  white  beard,  and  heard  the  low  murmur 
of  his  tremulous  voice,  he  felt  that  he  had  at  length,  so  to 
speak,  found  his  level.  He  accompanied  him  in  every 
word  ;  and  coming  to  the  verse,  "  If  I  forget  thee,  O 
Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget," — the  youth  uttered 
it  with  such  fervent  emphasis,  at  the  same  time  involun- 
tarily raising  his  hand,  that  his  companion  looked  at  him, 
and  with  corresponding  fervor  recited  the  next  words,  "  If 
I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth:  if  I  prefer  not  Jerusalem  above  my  chief 
joy."  When  they  had  completed  the  portion  Alick  whis- 
pered, '  Who  is  the  daughter  of  Babylon  1' 
'  Rome,'  was  the  answer. 


JUDAH^S  LION.  253 

'  Our  ancient  enemy,'  rejoined  Alick  ;  '  the  destroyer 
of  our  Temple,  the  overthrower  of  our  city,  the  murderer 
of  our  fathers.' 

'Ay,  youth,  and  of  their  sons;  the  greatest  persecutor 
of  our  race  from  the  day  she  first  polluted  this  soil  with 
her  foot,  even  to  the  present  hour.' 

'  Happily  she  has  no  footing  here  just  now,'  said  Alick. 

'  She  has  her  agents  even  here,  and  her  crafty  counsels 
influence  the  springs  of  governmentj  opposing  the  liberal 
projects  of  other  states,  and  carrying  forward  her  own 
device  of  universal  empire,  of  which  she  longs  to  make 
this,  our  Jerusalem,  the  eastern  metropolis.' 

'  But  she  never  shall,'  said  Alick  ;  '  far  rather  would  I 
that  it  remained  Under  its  present  masters  till  Messiah 
come,  whose  right  it  is,  than  that  Eome  held  it,  even 
though  it  were  to  my  personal  advantage.' 

'  No  Jew  could  be  advantaged  by  that,'  remarked  his 
companion;  'not  one  of  our  nation  would  ever  set  foot 
"within  the  gates,  if  Rome  held  the  key.  Our  present 
privileges  are  not  great,'  he  added  with  a  sorrowful  smile, 
in  which  resignation  seemed  to  strive  against  more  acute 
feelings,  '  but  they  are  privileges.  To  sojourn  unmolested 
where  stood  the  palaces  of  my  race,  to  w^eep  unrestrained 
beside  the  last  decaying  fragments  of  our  glorious  bul- 
warks, and  to  lay  my  bones  where  rest  the  bones  of  the 
prophets  and  the  mighty  men  of  Israel — these  are  bless- 
ings ;  and  yet  a  greater  blessing  is  there  in  the  uninter- 
rupted study  of  this  book  of  the  law,  and  in  tracing  out, 
by  the  light  of  prophecy,  amid  the  now  polluted  ruins  of 
Jerusalem,  the  grandeur  and  the  beauty  and  the  magnifi- 
cent array  in  which  she  shall  arise,  when  the  call  comes 
to  shake  the  dust  from  her  garments  and  to  sit  down — no 
longer  upon  the  ground,  but  upon  the  throne  which  God 
has  prepared  for  her,  and  which  no  other  shall  occupy.' 

As  the  old  man  spoke,  his  eye  kindled,  his  cheek  glowed, 


254  judah's  liok.- 

and  his  voice  became  exceedingly  impressive.     A  pause 
just  then  occurring  among  the  other  speakers,  his  words 
caught  their  attention,  and  such  a  response  was  uttered  by 
many,  in  the  various  accents  of  prayer,  of  praise,  and  of 
confident  assertion,  as  made  Alick's  heart  leap  within  him* 
Unable  to  control  his  feelings  he  sprung  from  his  seat,  and 
exclaimed,  '  Is  this  Jerusalem  1    Are  such  the  promises  of 
our  God  concerning  her  1  Do  we  believe  those  promises'? 
And  are  we  never  to  stretch  forth  a  hand  to  grasp  the 
glorious  realities  on  which  our  eyes  are  fixed  1     Men  of 
Israel,  have  ye  forgotten  the  word  that  came,  even  by  the 
mouth  of  the  impious  Balaam,  testifying  what  the  Lion  of 
Judah  should  achieve  1  and  must  that  kingly  Lion  for  ever 
lie  prostrate  in  the  dust,  while  his  enemies  exult,  and  they 
who  know  his  power  marvel  at  his  quietude  V 

The  astonishment  excited  by  this  burst  of  enthusiasm 
was  great.  Several  seemed  thoroughly  roused  by  it ;  and 
some  looked  on  the  young  pleader  with  feelings  not  un- 
mixed with  awe,  as  though  a  message  had  suddenly  been 
delivered  to  them  from  a  higher  source.  They  were  upon 
the  spot  where  such  communications  were  often  of  old 
made  to  their  fathers  ;  and  they  gazed  on  him  as  if  ex- 
pecting a  further  manifestation  of  something  wonderful. 
The  old  Jew  had  also  arisen  and  stood  behind  him,  his 
thin  hand  resting  on  Alick's  shoulder,  and  his  mild  eye 
lighted  up  with  an  expression  of  paternal  tenderness,  and 
holy  exultation  :  Alick  had  spoken  in  Hebrew,  which  all 
understood,  and  used  ;  and  while  the  effect  produced  by 
his  abrupt  address  was  gradually  subsiding  into  the  ex- 
pression of  different  opinions  among  the  company,  another 
aged  man  addressed  his  friend,  saying  in  German,  '  Is  he 
not  the  counterpart  of  your  lost  son,  Wilhelm  V 

Alick  caught  the  last  word,  and  at  the  same  time  saw 
Da  Costa  start ;  but  he  could  not  comprehend  the  language, 
and  just  then  some  one  addressed  to  him  an  inquiry  as  to 


JtJDAH's    LION.  255 

his  object  in  making  so  unexpected  an  appeal  to  their 
strongest  feelings.  Alick  frankly  answered  that  he  had 
no  other  object  than  that  of  recommending  to  his  brethren 
a  more  practical  application  of  what  their  own  prophets 
had  written  ,•  that  he  was  persuaded  the  day  of  Israel's 
redemption  could  not  be  far  distant,  but  he  saw  no  fruit 
of  such  a  conviction  on  the  minds  of  others;  and  that  to 
be  content  with  the  position  which  they  now  held  in  their 
own  city  appeared  to  him  like  the  despising  of  good  things 
promised  by  the  Lord.  Abashed  as  he  really  felt  at 
having  been  led  to  make  himself  so  conspicuous  in  a 
party  where  he  was  probably  the  youngest  present,  he 
resolved  not  to  retreat,  but  to  follow  up,  so  far  as  he 
miglit,  the  advantage  of  having  given  a  new  turn  to  the 
conversation,  and  one  far  better  suited  to  such  a  company 
than  the  dreams  of  the  Talmud.  He  was  weary,  too,  of 
the  names  of  Rabbi  Solomon  Jarchi,  Rabbi  Kimchi, 
Maimonides,  Aben-Ezra  ;  and  longed  to  hear  somewhat 
of  Nehemiah  the  rebuilder  ;  or  of  Zachariah,  and  the  rest 
of  those  holy  men,  who  by  the  inspiration  of  God  had 
declared  his  purposes  towards  his  own  people.  Alick 
had,  moreover,  detected  some  very  startling  things  as 
forming  part  of  the  system  which  his  brethren  considered 
to  be  pure  Judaism  ;  he  heard  from  one  stern-looking 
Rabbinical  teacher  a  sentiment  involving  the  doctrine 
that  all  Gentile  people  were  to  be  converted  by  the  edge 
of  the  sword  to  their  faith  ;  from  another  he  heard  a  re- 
mark plainly  indicating  that  Christians  were  not  to  be 
regarded  as  neighbors,  nor  treated  like  fellow-men  ;  and, 
what  confounded  him  not  a, little,  that  he  was  liable  to 
the  most  severe  punishment  for  eating  food  prepared  by 
Gentile  hands,  and  partaken  of  by  Gentiles.  His  father 
had  always  been  extremely  lax  on  this  head  ;  and  Alick 
had  paid  so  little  regard  to  the  opinions  or  customs  of  his 
peculiar  people,  that  he  had  looked  on  Ben-Melchor  as 


256  judah's  lion. 

an  extraordinary  specimen  of  exclusiveness,  not  as  a  fair 
sample  of  what  a  Jew  would  consider  it  right  to  be,  in 
point  of  ceremonial  distinction.  Among  many  passing 
thoughts,  he  wondered  that  Da  Costa  had  never  spoken  to 
him  on  the  subject  of  that  separation  which  it  struck  him 
he  had  himself  always  practised :  for  he  was  aware, 
though  he  had  not  before  remarked  it  otherwise  than  as 
accidental,  that  he  had  never  actually  partaken  with  them 
in  any  meal  at  Jaffa,  or  on  the  road.  Could  he  regard 
these  observances  as  binding  on  a  Hebrew,  and  yet  permit 
him  daily  to  transgress  without  a  warning  word  1 

Towards  the  close  of  the  evening,  Alick  missed  from 
the  party  both  Da  Costa  and  the  German  :  the  former 
only  returned,  and  his  excited  appearance,  the  flashing 
eye,  the  restless  motion,  the  evident  abstraction  of  his 
mind,  struck  Alick.  The  party  soon  after  separated,  and 
Da  Costa,  taking  Alick's  arm,  led  him  forth  to  the  highest 
part  of  Mount  Zion  towards  the  East,  whence  they  looked 
out  upon  the  Mount  of  Olives.  Neither  had  spoken  :  Da 
Costa  was  still  laboring  under  strong  emotion ;  and  his 
young  friend,  who  began  to  feel  some  fatigue  of  body 
added  to  his  mental  excitement,  resolved  to  let  him  take 
the  lead.  Having  reached  a  ruined  quadrangle,  the  re- 
mains of  a  small  house,  and  seated  himself  on  a  low  wall, 
motioning  to  Alick  to  do  the  same.  Da  Costa  commenced  : 
'  Cohen,  the  time  is  come,  and  come  somewhat  sooner 
than  I  anticipated,  for  entering  upon  explanations  of 
immense  moment  to  you.  I  could  have  wished  to  defer 
this  J  I  wished  to  conduct  you  over  all  the  ruins  of  this 
city  of  our  God,  to  point  out  every  sacred  spot  to  which 
the  proscribed  Jew  may  approach ;  to  lead  you  to  the 
sepulchres  of  our  kings,  the  burying-places  of  our  fathers. 
I  desired  to  familiarize  you  with  every  touching  wreck  of 
our  beloved,  our  dishonored  Jerusalem,  groaning  as  they 
are  under  the   gaudy  temples  of  the  Moslem  and  the 


judah's  lion.  257 

Nazarene  j  and  then  I  would  have  shown  you  the  interior 
of  some  of  those  execrable  dens  of  idolatry  where  the  latter 
carry  on  their  abominable  worship,  addressed  to  images 
which  their  own  hands  have  made.  I  purposed  placing 
before  you  Zion  in  her  deepest  desolation,  Gentilisra  in 
its  proudest  triumph,  and  then  appealing  to  your  heart 
and  conscience  as  to  which  parly  might  claim  you  a 
disciple.' 

'  No  such  preparation  was  needed.  Da  Costa,  the  faith 
of  my  fathers  is  dearer  to  me  than  my  life  ;  the  hateful 
idolatries  to  which  you  allude' . 

'  Nay,  hear  me  out.  The  plan  so  thoughtfully  framed 
has  been  wholly  disconcerted  by  the  unexpected  recogni- 
tion amongst  this  night's  party,  of  poor  Wilhelm's  father  ; 
and  the  discovery  of  a  clue  that  I  must  immediately  fol- 
low up,  or  the  sole  chance  of  tracing  and  of  rescuing  him 
may  be  for  ever  lost.  This  compels  me  to  come  to  an 
abrupt  and  premature  disclosure  of  matters  that  concern 
you  most  nearly  ;  for  dear  as  Wilhelm,  my  long  and 
loved  companion  is  to  me,  I  cannot  sacrifice  you,  Cohen, 
the  acquaintance  of  a  day,  even  to  save  him.  But  tim.e 
is  so  precious,  the  space  allowed  me  so  brief,  that  I  must 
without  farther  delay  proceed  to  execute  my  mission. 
Stand  up,  Cohen,  and  here  in  the  presence  of  the  God  of 
Israel,  who  shall  judge  between  us,  answer  me,  are  you  a 
Christian  V 

'  I  am  not  5'  answered  Alick,  firmly. 

'  What  then  are  you  V 

'  A  son  of  Abraham,  by  descent ;  a  Jew  in  blood,  in 
heart,  in  soul,  and  in  profession.  A  Jew,  in  the  thought- 
less days  of  boyhood,  in  free,  happy  England  :  tenfold  a 
Jew  here,  surrounded  by  the  crumbling  stones  of  Jeru- 
salem.' 

*  My  dear  lad,  you  are  a  Jew  by  birth  and  name,  and  a 
Jew  in  sentiment,  but  there  is,  whether  you  be  conscious 
23 


258  judah's  lion. 

of  it  or  not,  a  halting  between  two  opinions,  wholly  in- 
consistent with  the  profession  you  make.  Why,  you  do 
not  even  observe  the  law  of  Moses  in  the  matter  of  meats, 
of  fasting,  of  purification — in  short,  you  are  a  Gentile  to 
all  outward  appearance  ;  and  not  a  little  in  feeling  and 
opinion.' 

Alick  was  hurt :  '  You  very  well  know  that  my  father 
always  looked  forward  to  my  enjoying  political  privileges 
in  England,  and  brought  me  up  with  as  little  distinction 
as  possible  between  me  and  my  Gentile  schoolmates  and 
compeers.  If  you  thought  me  wrong,  why  did  you  not 
reprove  me  at  once  1' 

'  Let  that  pass ;  and  speak  only  of  the  future.  Is  it 
your  purpose  to  continue  this  line  of  conduct,  wounding 
your  people,  your  religion,  your  own  soul,  by  such  glaring 
inconsistency  1' 

'  I  am  quite  ready  to  conform  in  every  particular  to  the 
law  of  Moses,  and  you  cannot  prescribe  anything  so  strict 
that  I  shall  not  esteem  it  an  honor,  a  privilege,  a  rich 
blessing  to  practise  it.' 

'  And  a  matter  of  salvation,'  added  Da  Cor,ta. 
Alick  was  silent.  A  new  train  of  thoughts  arose  in  hi» 
mind,  but  his  companion  did  not  allow  him  to  leflect:  he 
rapidly  proceeded,  '  The  moments  are  so  precious  that 
we  may  not  pause  on  a  word.  I  must  remind  you  that 
the  sacred  duties  you  declare  yourself  willing  to  fulfil, 
cannot  be  fulfilled  under  your  existing  connection  with 
the  Ryans.' 

Alick's  color  rose  ;  *  They  both  can  and  shall,  and  they 
must !  for  my  father  has  placed  mc  under  Captain  Ryan's 
care,  and  you  will  not  persuade  me  that  disobedience  to 
parents  forms  any  part  of  the  law  of  Moses.' 

'  Suppose  for  a  moment  that  no  such  arrangement  had 
«ver  been  made  ;  what  then  would  you  say  V 


jtroAn's  LION.  259' 

*  Time  being  so  precious  we  had  better  not  waste  it  in 
idle  hypotheses,'  answered  A  lick,  somewhat  drily. 

Da  Cosla  seemed  perplexed  :  '  Yet,  Cohen,  indulge  me 
thus  far:  did  no  such  obligation  exist,  and  were  you  per- 
fectly satisfied  that  living  and  travelling  with  Christians, 
uninstructed  too  as  you  are  in  all  the  requirements  of  our 
holy  law,  you  must  daily,  hourly  transgress  it,  would  you 
prefer  the  gratification  of  a  natural  liking  for  some  agree- 
able strangers  to  the  stern  duty  of  glorifying  the  God  of 
Israel  by  obedience  to  his  commands  1' 

'  No,  Da  Costa  j  in  that  case  I  should  be  enabled  to 
sacrifice  all  private  feelings,  and  withdraw  from  society 
most  dear  and  precious  to  me.  I  would,  in  that  case, 
accompany  you  in  your  search  for  Wilhelm,  share  your 
dangers,  and  in  every  particular  learn  strict  conformity  to 
our  holy  law.  Even  as  it  is,  I  solemnly  pledge  my  word 
to  you  that  I  will  live  as  strict  a  Jew,  be  the  difficulty 
what  it  may,  as  your  heart  can  desire.  Only  tell  me  how 
to  act,  and  doubt  not  my  resolve  to  exhibit  in  all  its  fea- 
tures the  character  of  our  divine  faith.' 

Da  Costa  caught  his  hand,  and  exclaimed,  '  Dear  Cohen  f 
noble  young  Israelite  !  how  thankl^ul  I  am  that  1  read 
aright  your  character,  and  permitted  your  own  honest  feel- 
ings to  mark  out  for  you  the  path  into  which  I  had  power 
to  force  you  !  Don't  spoak — listen.  You  remember 
BenMelchor]  As  strict  a  devotee  as  can  be  imao-ined, 
he- is  moreovev  extremely  fond  of  reporting  all  who  come 
short  of  his  standard  ;  and  your  case  was  laid  before  some, 
high  in  authority,  of  v/hich  the  world  knows  little.  The 
report  preceded  you  to  Jaffa  :  I  was  employed  to  remon- 
strate with  your  father,  and  I  did  so.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  repeat  all  that  passed  :  a  long  consultation  was  held 
with  him  by  some  of  our  leading  men,  and  the  result  was 
this' — he  drew  a  paper  from  his  bosom — 'your  father's 
distinct  permission  for  your  removal  from  under  Captain 


260  jttdah's  lion. 

Ryan's  care,  to  whom  I  also  bear  a  letter  of  thanks  and 
full  explanation  j  and  should  any  resistance  be  offered  by 
you,  then  an  appeal  to  the  chief  Rabbi  here  in  Jerusalem 
would  have  been  resorted  to  ;  and  you  must  have  answer- 
ed for  your  faith,  either  submitting  to  his  authority  or  apos- 
tatizing. Now,  I  did  not  particularly  relish  the  agency  in 
such  a  matter  :  but  I  took  a  special  liking  to  yen  from  our 
first  interview,  and  I  likewise  felt  no  slight  share  of  good- 
will towards  that  nice  fellow  Ryan,  apart  from  his  meddle- 
some ways.  I  confess  too  that  my  heart  was  fairly  won  by 
the  child ;  and  the  deep  feeling  they  all  evince  for  us  na- 
tionally ;  which  I  never  before  knew  any  of  the  Jew-con- 
verting gentry  to  entertain;  nor  even  to  recognize  ourna- 
tion,  except  so  far  as  they  could  fix  the  taunting  accusa- 
tion of  being  a  scorn  and  a  curse.  Well,  I  resolved  to 
act  tenderly  by  all  parties ;  and  I  should  have  approached 
very  gradually  to  this  point,  but  for  the  meeting  with  poor 
old  Wilhelm,  whose  grief  for  his  son,  and  emotion  on  dis- 
covering in  me  the  companion  of  his  travels,  and  the  sworn 
avenger  of  his  wrongs,  spurred  me  on  to  this  rude  disclo- 
sure.    So  now,  Cohen,  what  say  you  V 

'I  will  go  with  you;'  answered  Alick,  after  a  severe 
struggle:  'but  had  you  proceeded  less  kindly  and  gene- 
rously,  I  would  not  have  yielded — would  not  have  left 
my  poor  friends  in  their  affliction — they  who,  to  gratify 
me,  changed  the  course  of  their  travels,  and  sacrificed  their 
darling  child.'     He  was  unable  to  proceed. 

'Be  comforted,  Alick.  I  mean  to  make  a  frank  state- 
ment to  Captain  Ryan,  and  sure  I  am  that  his  own  honor- 
able spirit  will  dictate  a  ready  acquiescence  in  our  plans. 
We  will  repair  to  him  as  early  as  possible  ;  and  while  you 
sit  with  Charley  and  his  mother,  we  will  talk  it  over.  At 
present,  you  must  get  some  rest.' 

They  descended  the  Mount,  and  Alick  soon  found  him- 
self again  in  the  Jews'  quarter.     Very  little  sleep  did  he 


JUDAU's    LION.  261 

enjoy,  his  mind  was  so  bewildered  by  the  new  and  strange 
position  in  which  he  found  himself;  but  the  image  of  the 
meek  old  Israelite  wdo  had  especially  interested  him  from 
the  first,  the  hope  of  restoring  to  him  his  lost  son,  and  that 
love  of  adventure  natural  to  his  age  and  character,  almost 
counterpoised  his  bitter  regrets  concerning  the  Ryans. 
The  thought  of  becoming  a  stricter  Jew  delighted  him, 
and  he  was  resolved  to  hold  Da  Costa  to  his  engagement 
for  the  daily  reading  of  God's  word,  with  a  minute  inves- 
tigation of  the  New  Testament.  Early  in  the  morning 
they  repaired  to  the  Missionary's  house,  and  learned  with 
joy  that  little  Charley  was  very  materially  better.  They 
were  admitted  to  the  apartment  where  he  lay,  pale,  but. 
full  of  animation,  his  face  turned  in  the  direction  of  a  small 
latticed  window,  through  which  was  seen  the  graceful, 
slope  of  the  Mount  of  Olives.  He  returned  the  caresses 
of  his  friends,  and  then,  eagerly  pointing  to  the  lattice,  ex- 
claimed '  Look,  Mr.  Alick :  there's  the  place  where  the 
Lord  Jesus  used  to  go  and  pray,  and  to  teach  the  people:, 
there's  where  he  wept  over  Jerusalem  :  there's  where  he 
came  down,  meek  and  lowly,  and  having  salvation  :  and' 
riding  upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass.  There's' 
where  he  sweat  blood  for  us ;  and  where  he  was  betrayed 
and  taken  with  swords  and  staves:  and  there's  where  he 
shall  be  again,  for  ''  His  feet  shall  stand  on  the  Mount  of 
Olives,"  when  He  comes  to  destroy  his  enemies,  and  to 
reign  over  the  whole  earth.' 

'"You  seem  quite  alive,  Charley,'  said  Da  Costa- 
'  Yes,  Mr.  Dockster  ;  looking  at  the  Mount  of  Olives 
makes  me  alive.  Mamma  says^  if  I  go  on  so  well  1  shall 
soon  be  able  to  go  with  you  all  through  the  place.  How 
nice  it  will  be  !  You  will  show  me  where  David  lived, 
and  where  he  is  buried;  and  where  Solomon  built  the 
Temple,  and  Nehemiah  built  the  walls  up.  Didn't  I  tell 
you  I  should  get  better  at  Jerusalem!  But  why  do  you 
23* 


262  JTTDAH^S  LIOIT. 

look  SO  sad,  Mr.  Alick  1  Oh,  it's  that  you  are  sorry  be- 
cause Jerusalem  is  taken  awaj'  from  the  Jews  :  but  never 
fear,  when  Messiah  comes,  he  will  give  it  you  again,  and 
he  will  be  your  God,  and  you  shall  be  his  people.' 

He  looked  fondly  at  Alick,  whose  dejection  seemed  to 
increase,  and  putting  his  little  arm  about  his  necl:,  said, 
*  I  do  be  sorry  to  see  you  look  unhappy  :  but  the  Lord 
Jesus  will  comfort  you.  Don't  you  remember,  at  Ramah, 
the  priest  said  I  should  die  1  Well,  it  made  me  a  little 
afraid,  and  I  was  very  sorry  to  leave  papa  and  mamma,  and 
you  darling  Jews  ;  and  I  was  afraid  because  of  all  my 
sins  and  naughtiness  to  go  and  stand  before  God  :  he  is  so 
great  and  terrible  !  But  then  I  thought  of  the  verse  "  The 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  from  all  sin,"  and 
it  did  comfort  me  so  !  and  I  was  not  afraid  then.  Oh,  if 
you  would  but  love  him,  you  would  never  be  very  sorry, 
and  you  would  never  be  at  all  afraid.'  He  looked  again 
to  the  window  and  repeated,  "As  the  hills  stand  about  Je- 
rusalem, so  standeth  the  Lord  about  his  people." 

'  Captain  Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa,  'I  want  to  have  a  few 
minutes'  conversation  with  you ;  can  you  spare  the  time 
now  V 

*  Willingly.  I  hope  we  shall  pass  the  whole  day  toge- 
ther ;  and  I  am  at  your  service.' 

They  went  out :  Alick's  heart  beat  most  painfully,  and 
Mrs.  Ryan  affectionately  inquired  if  he  was  not  well : 
'He  is  sorry,'  said  Charley,  'I  know  that.  Mr.  Alick  you 
shall  read  to  me,  please  do;  I  want  you  to  read  to  me  the 
twelfth  of  the  Hebrews.' 

Alick  did  so,  and  he  felt  the  power  of  that  exquisite 
portion  more  perhaps,  than  he  had  ever  felt  any  part  of 
the  New  Testament.  Charley's  innocent  but  appropriate 
remarks  pointing  more  forcibly  his  attention.  He  then  an- 
swered various  questions  of  the  child  and  his  mother,  as 
to  what  he  had  already  seen,  and   tried  to  smile  when 


judah's  lion.  263 

Charley  (alked  of  the  pleasant  walks  they  should  take, 
adding, '  I  think  I  shall  soon  get  well,  now  I  am  in  Jerusa- 
lem, and  you  will  be  talking  to  me  all  the  day  long  about 
the  beautiful  places,  till  I  can  see  them  myself.' 

At  length  the  two  gentlemen  returned  j  Captain  Ryan's 
countenance  bespoke  displeasure  ;  Da  Costa  looked  proud 
and  high  :  and  Alick  with  some  trepidation  obeyed  a  sum- 
mons presently  given,  to  withdraw  with  them  into  another 
room. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


^Now,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa,  as  soon  as  they  were  alone, 
'  have  the  kindness  to  repeat  to  Captain  Ryan  what  you 
understand  to  be  my  share  in  this  business.' 

'  There  is  no  need  of  it ;'  said  the  Captain.  '  I  am  sa- 
tisfied that  you  have  acted  as  fairly  as  the  circumstances 
would  admit:  but  having  accepted,  and  so  far  faithfully 
discharged  a  sacred  trust,  I  cannot,  at  a  moment's  notice, 
relinquish  it,  without  ascertaining  the  mind  of  my  young 
friend.' 

'  My  mind  is  soon  spoken,'  said  Alick,  '  The  first  wish 
of  my  heart  would  be  to  remain  as  I  am,  enjoying  this  af- 
fectionate intercourse  with  you  both  5  but  since  it  appears 
that  1  have,  with  the  rest  of  my  family,  been  remiss  in 
keeping  the  commandments  of  God,  as  delivered  to  my 
fathers,  and  as  fulfilled  here  in  Jerusalem,  through  succes- 
sive ages,  I  am  desirous  to  repair  that  omission,  and  to  ob- 
serve the  law,  to  its  extreme  letter,  in  all  the  strictness  of 
uncontaminated,  undiluted  Judaism.  This,  it  seems,  1  can- 
not do,  at  present,  through  ignorance  and  inexperience, 
while  associating,  in  domestic  life,  exclusively  with  Gen- 
tiles ;  therefore  I  am  willing  to  make  a  sacrifice,  which  I 
can  say  from  the  depth  of  my  heart  is  not  one  that  costs 
me  nothing  ;'  his  voice  faltered  for  a  moment,  but  he  went 
on  with  fresh  spirit.  'I  wish  to  be,  in  the  sight  of  all 
men,  wholly  and  openly  a  Jew  3  and  as  such  1  shall  care- 


JUDAIl's  LION'.  265 

fully  compare  the  law  and  the  prophets  with  what  Christ- 
ians assert  is  their  fulfilment.  I  shall  ask  wisdom  from 
the  God  of  Israel,  who  alone  can  give  it:  then,  if  I  find 
Christianity  to  be,  as  you  say  it  is,  the  end  of  our  law  and 
the  fulfilling  of  our  prophets ;  if  He,  whom  you  assert  to 
be  King  of  the  Jews,  is  really  so,  and  not  an  impostor,  I 
shall  be  found  in  the  right  path  for  the  acceptation  of  that 
which  as  yet  I  cannot  receive ;  and  as  I  know  Judaism  to 
be  of  God,  so  if  Christianity  be  of  GoJ  also,  they  cannot 
clash — they  must  combine,  and  form  but  one.  To  you, 
dear  sir,  I  owe  more  than  I  can  speak  ;  and  I  do  indeed 
regret  that  my  father's  tardy  acknowledgment  of  v/hat  it 
seems  was  certainly  obligatory  on  him,  should  have  in- 
volved you  in  so  much  additional  trouble  on  my  account ; 
should  have  deranged  your  plans,  and  embarrassed  your 
movements,  and  perhaps  have  placed  the  beloved  babe  in 
danger.  For  your  sake  I  most  deeply  regret  it ;  for  my 
own  I  cannot :  selfishness  prevails  v.'hen  1  think  on  the 
benefits  I  have  derived,  and  may  yet  more  derive  from  our 
short  intercourse.'  He  took  Captain  Ryan's  hand,  and  press- 
ed it  to  his  lips ;  then  joining  it  to  Da  Costa's,  he  added, 
'  In  whatever  you  may  differ,  you  are  one  in  affection  for  an 
unworthy  youth,  and  one  in  honorable,  generous  feeling. 
Are  you  satisfied.  Captain  Ryan  V 

'  More  than  satisfied  ;  I  see  the  advantages  of  your  fu- 
ture position  ;  and  so  long  as  you  abide  by  the  resolve  to 
study  the  Scriptures  with  prayer  for  divine  teaching,  the 
absence  of  man's  interpretations  will  be  a  positive  gain. 
But  beware  of  the  Talmud!' 

'The  Talmud,'  said  Da  Costa,'  is  our  oral  law,  and  as 
binding  on  us  as  the  New  Testament  is  on  you.' 

'  I  never  understood,'  said  Allck,  'that  the  Talmud  was 
an  inspired  book. 

'  I  can  tell  you,'  replied  Captain  Ryan,  '  in  the  words  of 
an  established  catechism  of  your  nation,  how  this  is  regard- 


266  JTTDAH  S  LION. 

ed.  It  is  asked,  '  In  what  manner  did  Moses  transmit  to 
us  the  laws  1  Answer,  Partly  by  means  of  the  written,  and 
partly  by  the  oral  law,  or  tradition.'  Then  again  ;  'Have 
the  Mishna  and  Gemara  equal  importance  with  the  writ- 
ten law  '?  Answer,  Just  the  same.  hey  are,  and  must 
be  just  as  important  as  Holy  Scripture,  for  they  contain  no 
arbitrary  or  human  ordinances  : — but  1st,  Divine  traditions 
and  declarations  to  Moses;  2ndly,  Laws  enforced  by  aug- 
mentation— i.  e.,  according  to  the  thirteen  traditional  rules 
of  interpretation  ;  and  3rdly,  Ordinances  of  the  prophets 
and  subsequent  wise  men,  which  are,  as  it  were,  erected 
round  the  word  of  God  as  a  wall  of  defence.  All  these, 
as  having  been  received  by  the  whole  nation,  have  the 
same  importance  as  Holy  Scripture."  This  is  from  the 
Bavarian  Catechism,  word  for  word.' 

'  But,'  rejoined  Alick, '  I  heard  some  things  very  lately 
stated  on  the  authority  of  the  Talmud,  which  I  should  not 
like  to  consider  myself  bound  to  believe  as  of  equal  au- 
thority with  the  Bible.^ 

'  And  I  confess,  said  Da  Costa,  '  that  there  are  some 
few  things  in  it  which  I  hope  and  believe  are  not  now 
held  by  us  as  matters  of  faith.' 

'  You  must  hold  them  so,  on  the  authority  of  your  Ca- 
techisms,' repeated  Captain  Ryan  j  '  for  even  in  England, 
and  within  these  two  or  three  years,  such  have  been  re- 
published as  this — after  mentioning  the  five  books  of  Mo- 
ses— '  We  also,  from  the  same  source,  receive,  as  sacred 
and  authentic,  a  large  number  of  traditions  not  committed 
to  writing,  but  transmitted  by  word  of  mouth  down  to 
later  times  ;  without  which  many  enactments  in  the  Holy 
Bible  could  not  have  been  understood  and  acted  upon  ; 
these,  termed  traditional  or  oral  laws,  were  collected  and 
formed  into  a  Bible  called  the  '  Mishna,'  by  Rabbi  Jehuda 
Hakodesh  A.  m.  4150  ;  in  addition  to  this,  we  are  guided  by 
the  explications  of  the  later  schools  of  pious  and  learned 


JUDAH*S  LION.  267 

Kabbins,  constituting  what  is  now  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Talmud,  or  Gemara.'  These  tradition?,  hiding  as  a 
dense  cloud  the  brightness  of  God's  Avord,  made  it  of  none 
effect ;  and  under  the  darkness  so  produced,  they  to  whom 
the  Lord  of  glory  catne,  could  not  discern  him,  but  here, 
even  here,  they  denied,  rejected,  and  crucified  him.  He 
was  asked, ''  W^hy  do  thy  disciples  transgress  the  traditions 
■of  the  elders  1  for  they  wash  not  their  hands  when  they 
eat  bread.  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Why  do 
3'e  also  transgress  the  commandment  of  God  by  your  tra- 
ditions'?" And  again  he  quoted  the  words  of  Isaiah,  "In 
\'ain  do  they  worship  me,  teaching  for  doctrines  the  com- 
mandments of  men."  Beware  of  the  Talmud,  Cohen  ! 
beware  of  the  admixture  of  man's  devices  with  the  pure 
truth  of  God  !' 

'  You  are  making  the  most  of  your  opportunity,  Cap- 
tain Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa. 

'  Aye,  and  bitterly  lamenting  that  I  have  not  always  done 
the  same.  I  calculated  on  many  a  convenient  season  for 
talking  to  you  both  on  the  things  that  belong  to  your 
peace  J  and  forgetful,  or  too  little  mindful  of  the  command- 
ment not  to  boast  myself  of  the  morrow,  I  have  held  back 
much  that  now  I  may  not  be  able  to  say.  The  very  cir- 
cumstance that  should  have  quickened  me  in  the  work, 
has  furnished  a  sort  of  pretext  for  being  backv/ard  in  it — 
my  boy's  danger ;  and  the  courtesy,  the  kindness,  the  hos- 
pitality that  you,  Da  Costa,  have  shown  me  in  this  land, 
instead  of  rendering  me  more  faithfully  urgent  with  you 
in  matters  of  salvation,  have  even  fostered  a  false  delicacy 
on  my  part ;  a  reluctance  to  wound  your  feelings  or  to 
shock  your  prejudices  by  honest  zeal  for  the  conversion  of 
your  soul.' 

'  You  have  not  only  shocked  my  prejudices,'  said  Da 
Costa,  '  but  sometimes  you  have  so  put  them  to  the  rout 
that  I  could  hardly  marshal  them  again  :  you  have  not 


268  JUDAIl's  LION. 

only  wounded,  but  well-nigh  slain  my  feelings  of  religious 
intolerance,  by  the  exhibition  of  Christianity  as  so  very 
lovely  a  thing,  in  your  own  character  and  that  of  your 
dear  wife,  and  angelic  little  boy,  on  whom  be  the  blessing 
of  the  Lord. 

'  FTear,  hear  him  !'  cried  Alick,  in  an  ecstacy  of  delight, 
while  Captain  Ryan,  much  moved,  bowed  his  head.  Then 
resuming  his  animated,  energetic  manner,  he  said,  'Da 
Costa,  you  have  blessed  my  bo}"-,  who,  babe  as  he  is,  would 
this  hour  yield  his  throat  to  the  knife  in  witness  of  the 
truth  v.'hich  he  holds,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Mes- 
siah of  Israel,  the  hope  of  the  Gentiles,  the  King  of  glory, 
God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever.  Now  I  challenge  you  on 
the  ground  of  that  blessing  (which  may  the  Lord  con- 
firm !)  to  reject  the  doctrines  of  the  Talmud,  which  bid 
you,  in  lieu  of  blessing  that  Christian  boy,  to  seek  his 
life.' 

'No,  no:'  said  Da  Costa,  hastily;  '  there  are  no  such 
Doctrines  in  the  Gemara  ;  and  if  any  such  thing  have  crept 
in,  it  is  now  obsolete — wholly  exploded. 

'Obsolete!  can  any  command  of  the  living  God  be 
obsolete?  Yon  aver,  in  the  catechism  which  I  have  just 
quoted,  that  the  oral  is  of  equal  authority  with  the  writ- 
ten law;  and  that  this  forms  a  part  of  your  oral  law,  1 
will  instantly  prove  to  you.'  He  ran  to  his  travelling 
valise,  and  drawing  forth  a  volume,  went  on  :  '  Here  is  a 
book  of  which  you  will  not  deny  the  authority,  as  ex- 
plaining and  enforcing  the  precepts  of  this  oral  law,  the 
Hilchoth  M'lachim  :  read  now  this  passage — ''  IMoses,  our 
master,  did  not  give  the  law  as  an  inheritance  to  any  but 
Israel ;  as  it  is  said,  '  the  inheritance  of  the  congregation 
of  Jacob  ;'  and  to  those  of  the  nations  who  might  wish 
to  become  prosel)  tes.  Moses,  our  master,  has  also  com- 
manded us,  by  Divine  appointment,  to  compel  all  that 
come  into  the  world  to  embrace  the  commandments  given 


judah's  lion.  269 

to  the  children  of  Noah.  And  whosoever  will  not  embrace 
them  is  to  be  pnt  to  death.''''  Do  you  know  what  is  meant 
by  the  children  of  Noahl' 

Da  Costa  was  silent ;  Alick  said  '  No.' 

*  They  are  one  of  the  four  classes  into  which  your 
Rabbins  of  the  Gemara  divide  mankind.  Israelites,  Pro- 
selytes, children  of  Noah,  and  Idolaters.  In  the  last 
class,  we,  who  acknowledge  Jesus  as  our  Lord,  are  in- 
cluded. The  third  head  comprises  those  among  the 
Gentiles  who  are  wholly  free  from  every  thing  that  in  the 
mind  of  a  Jew  constitutes  idolatry  ;  and  these  can,  more- 
over, only  be  enrolled  in  this  privileged  class  during  the 
celebration  of  a  Jubilee,  which  renders  it  impossible  for 
any  now  to  claim  the  benefit.  Consequently  I  repeat  it,  as 
my  little  Charley  would  not,  to  save  his  life  fifty  times 
over,  deny  his  Lord — there  is  no  remedy:  according  to 
the  Talmud  he  is  to  be  put  to  death.' 

'  There's  not  a  Jew  living  who  w^ould  think  of  any 
such  thing,'  said  Da  Costa,  impatiently. 

*  I  believe  it ;  and  therefore  there  is  not  a  Jew  livin<» 
who,  in  his  heart  and  conscience,  and  practice  too,  re- 
ceives the  Talmud  as  the  law  of  God.  The  atrocious 
calumnies  propagated  concerning  you  have  only  obtained 
credence,  where  they  did  obtain  it,  by  appealing  to  such 
passages  as  I  have  now  shown  you,  which  stand  side  by 
side  with  the  reiterated  declaration,  in  all  languages,  that 
you  regard  the  oral  law  as  equally  authoritative  and  bind- 
ing with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Tell  me,  then,  is  Cohen  to 
be  a  Jew  according  to  the  written  law  of  Moses,  or  accord- 
ing to  the  countless  requirements  of  the  Talmud  X' 

It  was  a  puzzling  question  ;  Alick  fixed  an  earnest  look 
on  Da  Costa,  who  at  length  said,  '  My  own  education  has 
been  that  of  a  man  destined  to  mercantile  pursuits,  and 
having,  of  course,  nothing  to  do  with  theological  disputa- 
tions. I  have  learned  to  observe  and  to  do  what  is  gene- 
24 


270  judah's  lion. 

rally  required  of  those  forming  our  congregations,  and  so 
far  I  can  guide  Cohen  in  the  same  path.  I  may  not  be 
able  to  trace  up  every  ceremonial  to  its  precise  origin, 
whether  in  the  written  or  the  oral  law,  but  I  can  attest 
that  it  is  an  observance  binding  on  us  as  Jews.' 

'  Could  we  not  procure  a  copy  of  the  Talmud  and  study 
it  on  our  road  V  asked  Alick. 

Captain  Ryan  looked  at  Da  Costa,  who  could  not  re- 
frain from  laughing,  as  he  replied,  '  A  dozen  ponderous 
folios  would  be  too  cumbrous  an  item  for  our  saddle-bags.' 

'  A  dozen  folios !  why  it  would  take  a  man's  natural 
life  to  become  properly  acquainted  with  their  contents,' 
said  Alick,  involuntarily  drawing  forth  his  Bible,  and 
compressing  it  between  his  hands. 

'  True,'  replied  Captain  Ryan  ;  '  and  as  the  Lord  pro- 
posed his  blessed  word  to  be  a  lamp  to  the  feet  and  a 
light  to  the  paths  of  each  poor  pilgrim,  he  made  it  so  sim- 
ple that  a  child  may  comprehend  ;  so  portable  that  a  child 
may  carry  it  in  his  bosom.  Yet,  Da  Costa,  as  the  cove- 
nant by  which  you  profess  to  stand  is  one  of  works,  and 
the  penalty  of  a  curse  is  denounced  against  every  man 
who  fails  to  observe  all  the  commandments  of  God,  it 
must  behove  each  one  of  you  to  be  fully  versed  in  every 
precept  of  the  oral,  if  it  be,  as  your  Rabbins  assert,  of 
equal  authority  with  the  Scriptures.' 

There  was  too  much  plain  sense  in  all  this  to  be  easily 
parried.  Da  Costa  merely  said,  '  For  any  breach  of  par- 
ticular observances  with  which  we  may  not  be  acquainted, 
we  shall  be  held  clear  on  the  ground  of  ignorance,  and 
our  absence  from  the  teachers  of  the  law,  and  the  public 
instruction  of  the  synagogue.  After  a  while  Alick  must 
study  under  a  competent  tutor :  and  so  become  versed  in 
what  concerns  him  as  an  Israelite  to  know.' 

*  My  dear  friend  !  look  at  the  fourth  chapter  of  Liviti- 
cus,  and  you  will  see  what  a  solemn  act  of  sacrifice,  the 


judah's  lion.  271 

slaying  of  a  bullock,  the  sprinkling  of  his  blood,  the 
burning  of  his  flesh,  was  directed,  with  much  exact  con- 
fession, where  a  soul  had  sinned  through  ignorance 
against  any  of  the  connmandments  of  the  Lord.  There 
was  no  other  way  appointed — without  shedding  of  blood 
is  no  remission  of  sins.  Against  the  hundred  thousand 
minute  requirements  of  the  oral  law,  you  must  necessarilj' 
be  in  hourly  danger  of  transgressing ;  and  if  they  be  the 
commandments  of  God,  you  need  the  daily  sacrifice,  the 
perpetual  pouring  forth  of  atoning  blood  before  the  Lord. 
When  and  where  do  you  propose  offering  this  sin-ofFering, 
this  bullock,  and  sprinkling  his  blood,  and  burning  his 
flesh,  while  your  penitential  confessions  ascend  before  the 
footstool  of  the  Most  High  V 

'  Here  !'  answered  Da  Costa,  in  a  voice  of  thunder : 
'Here,  in  Jerusalem:  here,  where  the  temple  once  stood, 
and  whfre  yet  again  it  shall  arise  in  more  exceeding 
glory  and  beauty.  We  have  now  no  temple,  no  altar  j 
yonder  accursed  fabric  usurps  the  spot  where  stood  our 
holy  and  beautiful  house;  it  shall  again  be  ours!  but 
think  you  the  God  of  Israel  will  judge  his  people  for  fail- 
ing in  that  which  He  has  rendered  them  incapable  of 
doing  V 

'  Listen,  Da  Costa :  your  fathers  in  the  wilderness 
offered  sacrifices  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  rites  by  him  commanded.  They  were 
miraculously  led  by  bread  from  heaven,  and  the  water 
which  they  drank  was  a  miraculous  supply.  That  sandy 
desert  yielded  no  pasturage,  no  streams  :  therefore  the 
sustenance  of  their  herds  and  flocks  was  no  less  a  miracle 
than  their  own.  The  tabernacle  was  borne  onward,  was 
pitched,  as  the  Lord  directed :  and  when  stationary,  the 
altars  were  arranged,  the  sacrifice  was  offered,  the  visible 
glory  of  God  rested  upon  the  scene,  and  while  as  yet  no 
place  was  found  for  the  permanent  worship  of  the  Most 


272  judah's  lion. 

Highest,  the  expiatory  rite  was  constantly  renewed,  and 
Israel  served  God  according  to  his  own  commandments, 
before  this  spot  was  ever  pressed  by  the  sole  of  a  Hebrew 
foot.' 

'But  afterwards,'  said  Da  Costa,  '  God  did  put  his  name 
here,  and  commanded  that  here  alone  those  sacred  rites 
should  be  performed :  here  was  the  Holy  of  holies  ;  here 
the  victim  was  slain,  and  his  blood  presented  befire  the 
mercy-seat ;  here  only  could  Israel  acceptably  appear  be- 
fore the  Lord  ;  and  when  this  place  was  wrested  from  us, 
we  were  shut  out  from  obedience  to  laws  so  expressly 
limiting  to  one  place  the  fulfilment  of  what  they  re- 
quired.' 

'Which  very  limitation,'  interrupted  Captain  Ryan, 
*  proved  that  so  long  as  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats  was  to 
be  shed  in  typical  expiation,  you  should  not  lose  the  power 
of  rendering  such  service  j  and  when  the  act  was  rendered 
wholly  impracticable  to  you,  it  proved  that  God  had  pro- 
vided for  you  a  more  excellent  way.' 

'  Not  so  fast,  my  good  friend ;  Judah  was  carried  away 
captive  into  Babylon  at  one  time,  and  remained  in  exile 
for  seventy  years,  equally  unable  as  now  to  carry  on  the 
temple-services.  They  were  restored  ;  but  no  change  of 
dispensation  took  place ;  the  temple  was  rebuilt,  but  not 
for  the  substitution  of  another  form  of  worship.  The  law 
of  Moses,  involuntarily  broken  for  three-score  years  and 
ten,  was  in  full  force,  as  now  it  is  ;  and  carried  out  again, 
as  by  and  by  it  will  be,  into  perfect  operation.  Now, 
Ryan,  what  say  you  to  this  'V 

'  I  say,  first,  that  your  fathers  were  carried  into  capti- 
vity-because  they  had  made  the  holy  temple  of  the  Lord 
an  offence  by  introducing  idol-worship  :  they  had  left  off 
to  sacrifice  according  to  Moses'  law,  and  every  abomina- 
tion which  the  Lord  hateth  they  did  unto  their  foul  hea- 
then gods.     The  temple  was  destroyed,  because   it  had 


jitdah's  lion.  273 

been  profaned  by  idolatry  ;  the  people  punished  because 
they  had  so  profaned  it.  Again,  I  say,  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  was  never  silent  among  you  during  that  short  dis- 
persion ;  Jeremiah  had  foretold  the  coming  visitation,  its 
cause,  and  its  issue.  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  and  others,  inces- 
santly spoke  the  word  of  the  Lord,  promising  a  speedy 
removal  of  the  chastisement,  and  distinctly  signifying  that 
its  duration  would  be  short,  and  that  the  temple-worship 
should  be  revived  on  its  termination.  This  affliction  had 
an  appointed  use  j  it  was  to  wean  you  from  idolatry.  It 
succeeded  ;  you  never  relapsed  into  that  crime,  and  now 
for  eighteen  hundred  years  the  heart's  desire  of  your  scat- 
tered people  has  been  to  resume  the  worship  of  God  in 
this  place,  according  to  what  Moses  enjoined.  How  do 
you,  how  can  you  account  for  this  1  Does  not  your 
heart  whisper  that  a  better  sacrifice  has  been  offered — one 
all-satisfying  atonement  which  the  former  rites  did  but 
prefigure,  and  that  by  expelling  you  and  keeping  you 
expelled  from  the  only  place  where  you  might  resume 
those  shadowy  sacrifices  and  ceremonials,  the  Lord  would 
have  you  to  understand  he  requires  them  at  your  hands  no 
longer  1' 

'  No,  no,' answered  Da  Costa  hastily,  while  Alick's 
face  shone  with  the  light  that  continually  more  and  more 
broke  in  upon  his  mind  ;  '  We  have  wandered  away 
from  our  subject.  Captain  Ryan,  and  perhaps  it  is  as  well 
to  wander  away  from  it  as  to  wander  up  and  down  in  it. 
We  never  shall  see  these  things  in  the  same  point  of 
view.  You  will  never  become  a  Jew,  nor  shall  I  cease 
to  be  so.' 

'  Yet  one  word  more,  my  friend,  and  I  have  done. 
Jew  or  Gentile,  we  are  guilty  men  ;  be  it  the  oral,  the 
ceremonial,  or  the  moral  law,  we  stand  guilty  before 
God  of  innumerable  transgressions  :  some  way  there  must 
be  of  salvation,  or  what  a  doom  of  hopeless  horror  is  be- 
24.* 


m 
2t4«  JUDAH^S    LION. 

fore  us !  It  is  not  by  keeping  the  oral  law  that  you  can 
attain  safety,  for  you  know  not  the  hundredth  part  of  its 
minute  requirements,  and  the  sin  of  ignorance  demands 
a  sacrifice  which  you  cannot  offer.  It  is  not  by  strict  ad- 
herence to  the  ceremonial  law,  for  you,  standing  here  in 
Jerusalem  itself,  within  sight  of  the  appointed  spot,  must 
die  by  infidel  hands  if  you  but  plant  a  footstep  within  its 
desecrated  boundaries.  It  is  not  by  the  moral  law,  which 
might  equally  avail  us  both,  for  on  what  night  could  you 
or  I  say  before  the  Lord,  "This  day  I  have  broken  no 
precept — this  day  I  have  loved  the  Lord  my  God,  and 
served  him  with  all  my  heart,  all  my  eoul,  all  my  facul- 
ties, and  all  my  means.  I  liave  wronged  no  man — 1  have 
not  coveted  aught  that  was  withheld  from  me — I  am 
wholly  guiltless  towards  God  and  towards  man."  No, 
we  cannot  look  into  the  mirror  of  the  two  tables,  and  not 
hide  our  faces  for  shame.' 

Da  Costa  appeared  touched  by  this ;  his  bright  eye 
flashed  and  glared  no  longer ;  but  with  a  downcast  look 
he  slightly  moved  his  head,  seemingly  not  in  dissent,  but 
in  regretful  acknowledgment  of  the  truth  of  what  he 
heard.  Captain  Ryan  resumed,  with  deep  and  solemn 
earnestness. 

'  It  was  commanded  of  God  that  in  one  place  alone  of 
all  the  earth  should  the  mysterious  expiatory  offering  be 
made  daily,  by  those  whom  alone  he  acknowledged  as 
his  people,  the  depositories  of  his  holy  will.  Here,  in 
Jerusalem,  was  the  appointed  place ;  and  here,  in  Jeru- 
salem was  the  mighty  work  accomplished.  Here  the 
Lamb  of  God  was  set  apart  and  slain  ;  from  hence  he 
went  with  the  all-sufficient  ofTering  of  his  own  blood  into 
the  Holy  of  holies  up  yonder,  to  appear  in  the  presence 
of  God  for  us.  In  him,  the  substance,  every  shadow 
terminated;  in  him,  the  antitype,  every  type  was  real- 
ized J  and  let  all  the  thunders  of  Sinai    peal  forth,  de« 


JUDAH^S    LION.  275 

nouncing  God's  righteous  judgments  on  me,  a  polluted 
sinner,  here  I  take  my  stand — Christ,  the  passover  of  Is- 
rael, the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  is 
sacrificed  for  us,  for  me  —yes,  Lord, 

My  faith  would  lay  her  hand. 

On  that  dear  head  of  thine. 
While  like  a  penitent  I  stand, 

And  there  confess  my  sin. 

My  soyl  looks  back  to  see 

The  burdens  thou  didst  bear, 
When  hanging  on  th'  accursed  tree. 

And  hopes  her  guilt  was  there ! 

"■  And  mine,'  was  the  silent  response  of  poor  Alick's 
throbbing  heart  j  but  no  word  passed  his  lips.  Captain 
Ryan's  eyes  were  uplifted,  and  the  expression  of  his 
countenance  was,  like  his  voice,  at  once  fervent,  humble, 
trusting,  rejoicing.  For  a  moment  Da  Costa  fixed  on 
him  a  look  of  intense  inquiry — for  a  moment  it  seemed 
as  though  he  almost  wished  indeed  to  understand  his  feel^ 
ings,  if  not  to  share  them :  then  abruptly,  as  if  waking 
from  an  idle  reverie,  he  said,  '  We  have  talked  a  good 
deal,  and  must  leave  off  just  where  we  started.  It  pains 
me  truly  to  have  been  made,  in  my  own  despite,  the  in^ 
strument  of  thus  putting  you  completely  out  of  your 
way,  and  now  of  leaving  you  with  that  dear  sick  boy.' 
Captain  Ryan  interrupted  him  :  '  You  have  not  in  the 
least  deranged  my  plans,  my  dear  fellow  :  Charley  is  so 
happy  in  being  within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  that  I 
cannot  be  thankful  enough  for  having  reached  them  :  and 
we  are  most  comfortably  situated.  Excepting  the  pain 
of  this  abrupt  separation,  we  shall  feel  no  way  disturbed 
by  the  turn  matters  have  taken ;  and  if  we  can  soften  it 
to  poor  Charley,  I  am  able  even  to  bless  the  overruling 


276  jOT)AH*s  Lion* 

Providence  that  has  so  ordered  all  things,  contrary  indeed 
to  our  plans,  but  for  the  ultimate  advantage  of  us  all.' 

'  And  will  you  write  to  my  father  V  asked  Alick :  '  and 
will  you  assure  him  of  your  forgiveness  1  I  know  it 
must  have  pained  him  bitterly  to  act  as  he  felt  compelled 
to  do.' 

'  It  did  indeed,'  said  Da  Costa  j  '  and  a  few  kind  words 
from  you  would  be  invaluable.' 

'Never  fear  J  I'll  write  him  as  cordially  as  1  feel  to- 
wards him,  and  that  is  not  a  little.  Now,  Cohen,  will 
you  pay  another  visit  to  your  poor  infant  friend,  and  Da 
Costa  also?' 

'Let  him  go  first,  and  have  a  good  talk  w^ith  him,' 
said  Da  Costa  ;  '  I  will  make  some  arrangements,  and 
then  join  you.' 

They  parted  with  mutual  cordiality  ;  Captain  Ryan 
summoned  his  wife,  to  hear  what  had  occurred,  and 
Alick,  with  a  swelling  heart,  repaired  to  the  sick  room. 
Entering,  he  heard  the  happy  tones  of  that  little  voice 
reciting  the  sixtieth  chapter  of  Isaiah  :  Charley  was  at 
the  twelfth  verse,  and  most  energetically  did  he  repeat, 
"  The  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve  thee  shall 
perish  ;  yea,  those  nations  shall  be  utterly  wasted.  The 
glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto  thee,  the  fir-tree,  the 
pine-tree,  and  the  box  together,  to  beautify  the  place  of 
my  sanctuary :  and  I  will  make  the  place  of  my  feet 
glorious."  The  boy  lifted  his  head,  looking  tov/ards  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  and  almost  shouted,  '  Glorious,  glo- 
rious ;  he  will  make  the  place  of  his  feet  glorious.  You 
beautiful  hill !  you  shall  be  glorious  then  ;  for  you  shall 
be  the  place  of  his  feet,  1  know  ;  and  Jerusalem  shall  be 
the  place  of  his  feet.  Oh,  mamma,  when  may  I  go  ouf? 
Am  not  I  one  of  the  little  boys  that  shall  play  in  the 
streets  of  Jerusalem,  when  they  shall  be  full  of  boys  and 
girls  playing  V     He  looked  round,  supposing  his  mother 


judah's  lion.  277 

was  there,  and  saw  Alick,  vainly  striving  to  hide  hia 
tears.  '  Ah,  you  darling,  is  it  you '?  You  are  crying 
now,  because  Jerusalem  is  taken  away  from  you  ;  but 
how  glad  you  will  be  when  He  makes  the  place  of  His 
feet  glorious!' 

Alick  sat  down  beside  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  felt 
really  better. 

♦  Sure  and  I  do !  I  shall  get  quite  well  in  no  time 
now  ;  and  all  I  want  is  for  us  to  buy  a  house,  and  live 
always  here  in  Jerusalem.' 

*  What,  and  never  see  Ireland,  poor  Ireland,  again  V 

'  I  love  poor  dear  Ireland,  so  I  do,  you  can't  think  how 
much  ;  but  you  see  I'd  rather  be  here,  and  wait  for  the 
Lord's  coming.' 

'  But  some  say  there  will  be  great  fighting  and  killing  ; 
you  would  not  like  that  1' 

'  Papa  says  there  will  be  fighting  and  killing  every- 
where ;  but  God's  people  won't  fight.' 

'  I  think  we  shall,'  said  Alick.  '  You  know  he  says  to 
the  Jews,  "Thou  art  my  battle-axe,  and  weapons  of  war  ; 
for  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the  nations  :  and  with 
thee  will  I  destroy  kingdoms  ;  and  with  thee  will  I  break 
in  pieces  the  horse  and  his  rider,"  and  so  it  goes  on.' 

'  Ay,  but,  Mr.  Alick,  the  Jews  won't  break  mem  pieces, 
because  I  love  them  so.' 

'  You  dear  little  fellow!' 

'  I  say,  will  you  take  me  on  your  knee,  and  let  me 
get  an  uncommon  good  look  at  the  Mount  of  Olives  1 
do.' 

Alick  complied  ;  he  wrapped  a  light  dressing  gown 
round  him,  and  lifting  him  in  his  arms,  sat  with  him  oppo- 
site the  little  window  ;  Charley  delighted  to  find  himself 
again  nestled  on  the  bosom  of  his  friend,  and  little  dream- 
ing how  much  sorrow  was  struggling  in  that  bosom  at  the 
prospect  of  leaving  him,  prattled  away  ;  pouring  out  the 


278  judah's  lion. 

fulness  of  his  believing,  loving  heart,  as  he  went  over  the 
various  scenes  so  well  noted  in  his  memory,  of  the  Lord's 
history  connected  with  that  mountain.  He  talked  of 
Gethsemane  till  his  voice  faltered,  and  tears  fell  on  his 
still  pale  cheek  ;  he  spoke  of  the  ascension  till  his  thoughts 
seemed  to  take  wing  and  mount  with  the  angelic  squad- 
rons who  heralded  the  King  of  glory  to  the  everlasting 
doors.  He  dwelt  on  his  return,  the  cleaving  asunder  of 
the  hill,  and  the  fearful  confusion  that  should  overtake  his 
baffled  foes;  and  then  fondly  stroking  the  cheek  of  his  en- 
tranced listener,  he  told  him  how  Jesus  wept  over  Jerusa- 
lem, looking  down  on  the  spot  where  they  then  were,  and 
how  ready  he  was  to  gather  him,  '  a  darling  Jew,'  under 
his  wing,  as  a  hen  shelters  a  little  chicken.  To  all  this, 
Alick  returned  no  answer,  though  the  occasional  kiss,  and 
the  occasional  tear  too  that  Charley  felt  on  his  brow,  was 
encouragement  enough  to  the  infant  missionary,  and  led 
him  out  into  the  utterance  of  many  of  his  brightest,  wild- 
est thoughts — wild  only,  as  they  knew  none  of  the  bounds 
within  vphich  man's  silly  wisdom  would  confine  the  glori- 
ous revelations  of  God.  Some  time  had  passed  thus,  when 
Da  Costa  entered  with  Captain  and  Mrs.  Ryan,  the  latter 
of  whom  had  been  weeping  abundantly  ;.  and  setting  down, 
said,  as  he  took  Charley's  hand,  '  Why  you  are  quite  a 
new  man  !' 

'  We  must  all  be  new  men,  Mr.  Dockster,  or  we'll  have 
to  run  away  when  He  comes  and  stands  on  the  Mount  of 
Olives.' 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  a  new  man  V  said  Da  Costa, 
evidently  puzzled. 

'A  sinful  man  changed  into  a  holy  man  by  believing  in 
Jesus  Christ.' 

' !  hope  you  will  live  to  preach  a  great  many  of  your 
pithy  sermons,  Charley.' 

'  I  don't  know  what  pithy  is,  Mr.  Dockster;    but  if  it 


JtTDAH's  LION.  279 

means  the  Gospel,  I'll  preach  it  as  long  as  I  live,  and  the 
sooner  I  die  the  faster  I'll  preach  it,  so  I  will.' 

'Why  sol'  said  Alick,  who  longed  to  hear  all  he 
could. 

'  f because  it  makes  me  so  happy  :  I'm  afraid  of  nothing 
when  I  think  how  the  Lord  Jesus  loves  me,  a  poor  little 
child  :  and  how  able  he  is  to  take  care  of  me.  Oh,  and 
he  was  a  little  child  too,  and  Ae?v,  here  in  this  very  place, 
he  tarried  behind  to  talk  with  the  Doctors  in  the  temple  ! 
It  is  so  nice  to  think  he  was  a  little  child  like  me  ;  he 
knows  all  about  little  children,  because  he  was  one.  I 
did  not  think  of  that  since  I  came  to  Jerusalem.  When 
I  am  well,  Mr,  Dockster,  will  you  carry  me  everywhere 
on  your  horse  V 

'  Charles,'  said  his  father, '  we  are  going  to  ask  you  some- 
thing ;  we  want  to  know  what  you  think.  There  is  a 
a  dear  young  Jew,  in  danger,  as  we  believe,  shut  up  in  a 
strong  place  by  some  monks,  to  make  him  turn  Romanist. 
Mr.  Da  Costa  is  his  friend  ;  and  this  young  man's  poor  old 
father  has  asked  him  to  go  and  find  him,  and  set  him  free. 
What  shall  we  do  V 

'Oh,  to  be  sure  you  must  go  fast,  Mr.  Dockster,'  said 
Charley  ;  '  take  plenty  of  soldiers  and  policemen,  and  get 
him  out  of  their  clutches.' 

'  There  are  no  soldiers,  no  policemen  here,  Charley  J 
moreover,  it  is  necessary  to  keep  it  a  secret ;  and  yet  how 
hard  for  poor  Da  Costa  to  go  alone  !  I  would  accompa- 
ny him,  but  that  I  cannot  possibly  leave  mamma  and 
you.' 

Charley  looked  wistfully  round  him,  and  last  of  all  at 
Alick:    he   hesitated;    the  struggle   was  evidently  very 
great,  and  so  was  the  anxiety  of  those  who  witnessed  it : 
at  last  he  said  in  a  clear,  firm  tone,  '  Christ  died  for  us 
and  we  ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren. 


280  judah's  lion. 

Yes,  you  must  go:  for  he  is  your  brother  j  you  must 
go,  Mr.  Alick,'  he  added,  clinging  closer  to  him,  '  won't 
you  V 

'  Yes,  I  will,'  answered  Alick,  whose  heart  seemed  to 
echo  the  boy's  sentiment.  '  I'll  go,  Charley  ;  and  you 
must  pray  for  us  every  day,  while  we  are  gone.' 

'  Ah,  won't  I  pray  every  hour  1  but  will  you  write  very 
often  to  us  1  every  post,  or  every  other  post  V 

'  We  shall  net  soon  reach  a  post-town,'  said  Da  Costa, 
'  but  you  shall  hear  of  us  as  often  as  possible,  and  see  us 
again,  I  trust,  before  long.' 

'  And  mind,  Mr.  Dockster,  when  you  see  the  foolish  Pa- 
pists praying  to  crosses,  please  don't  think  that  that  is  our 
religion.' 

*  1  know  it  is  not :  and  now  Charles,  I  say  good  bye  j 
and  I  say,  if  there  is  one  blessing  above  all  others,  ray  no- 
ble, generous,  matchless  boy,  may  it  be  yours  !' 

Charley  held  up  his  meek  face  to  receive  the  fervent 
blessing,  and  the  no  less  fervent  kiss  of  Da  Costa ;  who, 
clasping  both  the  little  hands  in  his,  said — '  Take  care  of 
yourself,  dear  child  ;  and  I  do  trust  you  will  soon  be  quite 
well — I  feel  sure  of  it.' 

Alick  spoke  not ;  for  any  attempt  at  utterance  would 
have  overset  his  firmness. — He  placed  the  child  again  on 
the  pillow,  and  gazed  earnestly  at  him.  Charley  was 
more  than  half  crying,  but  bore  up  ;  and  again  repeated, 
"  Lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren."  Alick  stroked 
off  the  ringlets  from  his  expansive  little  forehead,  and  with 
one  more  long  gaze,  one  more  kiss,  he  abruptly  turned 
away  ;  but  it  was  to  meet  Mrs.  Ryan's  look  of  sorrow  so 
deep,  and  dismay  so  undissembled,  that  he  could  scarcely 
stand  it.  He  clasped  her  hand,  and  in  a  whisper  heard 
but  by  her,  ejaculated,  '  God,  even  your  own  God,  bless 
you  !'     He  was  outside  the  door  the  next  moment ;   and 


judah's  lion.  281 

in  any  but  a  complacent  mood  towards  Da  Costa,  whom 
he  heartily  wished  he  had  never  seen.  He,  however,  re- 
pressed all  unkind  feelings,  and  gradually  recovered  the 
determined  tone  of  which  he  had  already  given  evidence. 
With  Captain  Ryan  he  parted  as  a  son  from  a  father  ;  and 
even  asked  the  blessing  before  it  could  be  uttered,  which 
Da  Costa  heard  in  silence,  and  then  said,  'When  your 
good  wishes  are  abroad,  Ryan,  don't  forget  me,  for  I  have 
not  acted  in  this  matter  from  choice-' 


«5 


CHAPTER   XX 


After  bidding  farewell  to  their  Christian  friends,  the  two 
Hebrews  returned  to  the  foot  of  Zion  ;  and  while  Alick 
prepared  his  travelling  bag,  Da  Costa  was  closeted  with 
old  Wilhelm.  A  sudden  thought  seized  the  youth,  that 
he  would  indulge  himself  with  one  solitary  ramble  in  the 
city  of  his  fathers,  and  leaving  a  message  for  Da  Costa,  he 
at  once  sallied  forth. 

His  undivided  attention  was  now  fixed  on  the  objects 
before  him  :  he  felt  desirous  to  carry  away  on  his  memo^ 
ry,  on  his  very  heart,  a  deeply-graven  picture  of  that  dear 
and  sacred  spot ;  and  seeing  a  flight  of  steps  that  led  to  the 
top  of  the  inner  wall,  beyond  which  the  outer  one  formed 
a  breast-work,  leaving  a  path  of  tolerable  width,  he  mount' 
ed  them,  and  found  himself  enabled  to  take  a  noble  view, 
not  only  of  the  city,  but  of  the  surrounding  country.  How 
delicious  was  the  solitude  of  those  moments  !  He  lament- 
ed his  partial  acquaintance  with  the  scriptures,  a  more  per- 
fect knowledge  of  which  would  have  brought  to  his  mind 
many  a  touching,  many  a  spirit-stirring  incident  connect- 
ed with  the  scene  before  him  ;  but  he  knew  enough  to 
make  it  so  absorbingly  interesting,  that  self  was  wholly 
swallowed  up  in  the  sublime  conceptions  of  what  that  roy- 
al city  had  been — what  she  yet  should  be.  Frequently 
pausing,  leaning  over  the  parapet,  and  rejoicing  to  feel  that 
his  heart  was  indeed  permitted  to  bound  against  the  stones 
of  Zion's  wall,  he  slowly  proceeded,  without  meeting  any 


JUDAll's    LION.  283 

person,  and  almost  realizing  in  his  mind  the  lonely  expe- 
dition of  Nehemiah,  when  exploring  the  broken  ruins  of 
the  city.  Evenin;^  was  approaching,  and  the  long  shad- 
ows stretching  on  the  hills  bespoke  the  sun's  rapid  decline. 
He  quickened  his  pace  ;  and  after  a  while  arrived  at  a 
point  whence  the  Mount  of  Olives  appeared  visible  to  an 
extent  that  he  had  not  before  noticed  ;  and  here  he  sat 
down,  and  fell  into  a  train  of  thought  that  usually  connect- 
ed itself  with  that  memorable  spot.  He  was  roused  from 
his  reverie  by  a  hand  gently  laid  on  his  shoulder,  and  an 
exclamation  of  delight  burst  from  him  on  recognizing  Cap- 
tain Ryan.  '  How  glad,  how  very  glad  I  am  to  see  you 
once  more  and  alone  !'  he  said,  and  his  friend  was  evident- 
ly no  less  pleased. 

'  My  dear  Cohen,  I  was  tempted  to  ask  a  private  inter- 
view with  you,  but  repressed  the  wish  ;  for  I  would  not 
interfere  with  the  delegated  authority  of  Da  Costa.' — 
'  Pardon  me.  Captain  Ryan,'  interrupted  Alick,  '  I  recog- 
nize no  such  authority,  neither  does  he  assume  it.  I  was 
merely  told  to  make  my  choice,  either  to  avow  myself  an 
apostate  from  Judaism,  or  to  submit  to  the  spiritual  gov- 
ernors of  my  people.  1  chose,  of  course,  the  latter  ;  and 
having  also  the  option  of  remaining,  if  I  wish  it,  with  Da 
Costa,  and  desiring  to  aid  him  in  his  present  enterprise,  I 
became  the  companion  of  his  journey.  No  authority  is 
thereby  understood.' 

'  In  spiritual  matters  he  undertakes  to  be  your  guide, 
and  regarding  Christianity  in  the  light  he  does,  any  inter- 
ference on  my  part  would  be  out  of  place,' 

'  Now  tell  me,  honestly,  frankly,  what  is  your  present 
opinion  of  Da  Costa,  since  this  disclosure  V 

'  Just  what  it  was  before.  I  consider  him  an  honorable 
man,  incapable  of  a  base  action,  but  unsubdued  in  charac- 
ter, save  as  natural  benevolence  in  a  measure  counteracts 
a  very  fiery,  and  perhaps  a  somew^hat  vindictive  tendency. 


284  JUDAH^S    LION. 

In  this  business  I  believe  him  to  have  acted  most  upright- 
ly :  and  with  a  great  sacrifice  of  personal  feeling  to  his 
disinterested  regard  for  you.  It  is  but  honest  on  my  part 
to  say  so  much  ;  but  remember,  Cohen,  what  man  may  be 
to  his  fellow-man  is  a  widely  different  question  from  that 
which  regards  his  state  before  God.  Da  Costa  is  blindly 
attached  to  what  he  believes  to  be  the  religion  of  Moses, 
but  which  he  has  not  fairly  brought  to  the  test  either  of 
your  own  scriptures  or  of  common  sense  ;  and  while  he 
receives  for  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men,  without 
examining  them,  lie  cannot  be  a  competent  guide  to 
others.' 

'But  I  will  receive  nothing  without  examining  it,'  said 
Alick ;  '  for  I  cannot  think  my  reasoning  faculties  were 
given  me  to  be  hood-winked,  and  led  about  in  passive 
helplessness  by  those  of  other  men.' 

'  Yet  you  must  hold  your  reason  in  most  perfect  sub- 
mission to  revelation.' 

'  But  is  the  oral  law,  a  revealed  law  V 

'Ah,  Cohen,  that^s  the  grand  question  you  have  to 
solve.  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  when  teaching  in  the  temple, 
told  the  Jews  the  great  hindrance  to  their  reception  of 
him  :  he  said,  "  Had  ye  believed  Moses,  ye  would  have 
believed  me:  for  he  wrote  of  me.  But  if  ye  believe  not 
his  writings,  how  shall  ye  believe  my  words  1"  This 
tradition  was  even  then  what  it  is  now,  opposed  to  the  re- 
velation of  which  it  professes  to  form  a  part ;  and  men  by 
receiving  it  actually  make  void  the  real  commandments  of 
God.  I  am  persuaded  that,  convinced  as  you  are  of  the 
Divine,  the  all-commanding  authority  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, you  never  can  receive  these  human  additions,  un- 
less by  the  surrender  either  of  reason  or  revelation — and 
the  latter  sacrifice  would  include  the  former — to  the  ipse 
dixit  of  a  fellow-man.  Hence  my  extreme  solicitude 
that  you  should  become  acquainted,  as  much  as  possible. 


judah's  lion.  285 

with  the  minutije  of  Talmudical  requirements,  ever  refer* 
ring  to  the  pure  word  of  God  ;  and  then  judge  for  your- 
self how  far  they  accord  with  the  holy  law, — so  simple,  so 
perspicuous,  so  well  adapted  to  man,  as  a  reasonable  crea- 
ture,— which  was  given  by  iMoses.  God  cannot  deny  or 
contradict  himself;  his  work  is  perfect — he  who  believes 
Moses,  and  gives  no  heed  to  man's  vain  interpolations,  ad* 
ditions  and  perversions,  will  believe,  on  the  evidence  set 
before  him,  in  Him  of  whom  Moses  wrote.' 

'  I  heard  that  mentioned  last  night  as  a  powerful  argu- 
ment for  Talmudism ;  that  he  who  rejects  it  is  on  the 
hio-h  road  to  become  a  Christian  :  therefore,  that  the  oral 
law  was  given  to  fence  in  and  secure  the  written  word.' 

*  Tlien,  it  would  seem,  Christianity  is  contrary  to  the 
Talmud,  but  not  contrary  to  the  oracles  of  God  V 

'  Rather,  that  the  Talmud,  like  a  candle,  throws  light 
on  the  subject,  and  reveals  that  contrariety  to  God's  law  V 

'  Or,  like  a  false  mirror,  so  distorts  both  objects,  that 
their  beautiful  harmony  is  changed  into  the  most  discord' 
ant  ugliness.  1  wish,  Cohen,  that  you  w^ould  ask  among 
your  learned  men  for  some  Talmudical  extracts — for  in- 
stance, the  laws  of  the  Mishna,  relative,  o  the  hallowing 
of  the  Sabbath-day  ;  take  them  with  you,  and  study  them 
on  the  road.  If  you  like,  I  can  supply  you  with  a  volume ; 
but  it  must  be  on  condition  that  you  show  it  to  a  compe- 
tent judge,  and  let  him  tell  you  whether  or  not  it  is  a  cor- 
rect transcript  of  your  oral  law.' 

'  I  saw  such  a  book  on  the  table  last  night,'  said  Alick, 
eagerly,  'and  I  will  borrow  it.' 

'  And  let  Da  Costa  read  it  with  you.' 

'Certainly;  but,  remember,  on  the  authority  of  my 
proper  teachers,  I  receive  that  book  as  of  Divine  obliga- 
tion, unless  I  find  it  plainly  contrary  to  Scripture  or  com- 
mon sense.' 

'  Yes:  and  when  you  have  detected  the  falsehood  of  the 
25* 


28^  judah's  liow, 

oral  law,  when  you  find  how  imperative  on  you  is  the  ob- 
servance of  the  ceremonial  law,  which  you  cannot  keep, 
and  when  you  have  smarted  a  little  under  that  universal 
schoolmaster,  the  moral  law,  you  will  come  weary  and 
heavy-laden  to  Christ,  who  alone  can  deliver  you  from  the 
curse  ;  justify,  sanctify,  and  ultimatel}'^  glorify  you  by  his 
free  grace.'  Alick  answered  not :  he  lifted  his  eyes  to 
the  Mount  and  thought  of  the  words,  "How  often  would 
I  have  gathered  you  !"     He  then  asked  for  Charley. 

'  Dear  little  fellow  !  he  was  asleep,  after  praying  most 
earnestly  for  you.  I  have  great  hope  of  his  recovery ;  but 
be  it  life,  or  be  it  death,  he  is  the  Lord's.' 

At  that  moment  the  Muezzim's  loud  monotonous  voice 
broke  upon  their  ear,  "  Prayer  is  better  than  sleep  :  there 
is  but  one  God,  and  Mahomet  is  his  Prophet."  Alick 
exclaimed,  '  Prayer  m  better  than  sleep  :  there  is  but  one 
God  alone,  and  Mahomet  is  an  impostor.' 

'Hush!'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  you  must  not  beard  the 
lion  in  his  den.' 

'  The  lion  in  his  den,  sir  !  the  yelping  cur  in  the  lion's 
den,  you  mean.  The  lion  !  0,  lion  of  Judah,  who  shall 
stir  thee  up  1 — when,  when  wilt  thou  rouse  thyself,  and 
rend  in  pieces  every  intruding  foe  V 

'  Ah,  Cohen,  when  you  know  that  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah  in  his  cliavacter  of  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  you 
will  bless  his  long-suffering  forbearance,  and  desire,  not 
the  life  of  that  wretched  pagan,  but  his  soul.' 

'  I  don't  desire  any  man's  life,'  said  Alick,  in  a  tremor 
of  half-subdued  passion:  'but  I  want  our  own  city,  the 
city  of  our  ancient  solemnities,  the  land  that  God  gave  to 
Abraham  and  his  seed  for  ever — I  want  them  delivered 
from  these  defilers,  and  restored  to  us,  at  once,  the  sons 
and  the  lords  of  the  soil.' 

'So  do  1,  and  when  you  acknowledge  your  King,  he 
will  speedily  trample  under  foot  every  obstinate  enemy.' 


JUDAH  S  LION,  287 

'  May  he  hasten  the  day  !'  exclaimed  Alick.  His  ve- 
hemence had,  however,  attracted  the  notice  of  an  Egyp- 
tian officer,  who  was  narrowly  eyeing  him  ;  and  Captain 
Ryan  drew  him  away,  at  the  same  time  telling  him  that 
the  prayer  he  had  just  uttered  was  more  effectual  than  a 
thousand  armies  in  bringing  about  the  consummation  so 
ardently  longed  for.  He  once  more  plainl3^  earnestly, 
admonishingly  set  before  him  the  Gospel :  he  spoke  of 
the  dangers  he  was  about  to  brave,  the  hourly  deaths  to 
which  he  must  be  exposed,  and  showed  him  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  his  present  faith,  the  vague,  unsatisfying  nature 
of  his  hope  for  futurit3^  Alick  listened,  and  assured  him 
that  he  would  not  trifle,  but  seek  by  all  means  to  become 
established  in  whatever  he  should  find  to  be  the  truth. 
Once  more  ihey  parted,  and  at  sunrise  the  two  Hebrews 
left  the  Holy  City. 

Their  course  lay  towards  soine  lofty  mountains,  the  in- 
tricate passes  of  which  were  familiar  to  Da  Costa  ;  who 
told  Alick  they  were  infested  with  rapacious  Arab  hordes, 
but  that  he  had  the  promise  of  an  escort  from  a  powerful 
Sheikh,  who  would,  if  necessary,  accompany  them  in 
person.  'I  long,'  said  Alick,  'to  get  among  the  wild 
Arabs :  they  are  our  half  brethren,  you  know, — the 
children  of  Abraham.' 

'  Aye,  and  so  were  the  Edomites ;  and  what  they  were 
to  Israel  in  the  desert,  these  sons  of  Ishmael  will  prove  to 
us,  their  poor  kinsmen,  if  we  be  not  wary.' 

'  What  trace  have  you  of  Wilhelm  V 

'  A  very  uncertain  one  ;  but  we  think  he  is  in  a  Ma. 
ronite  convent  among  the  distant  mountains.  Probably, 
on  Lebanon.' 

'  What  are  the  Maronites  1  how  distinguished  from 
others  of  these  multifarious  intruders  upon  our  pro- 
perty V 

'^  The  Maronites  are,  emphatically,  Papists.    No  race  of 


288  JUDAH  S   LlON. 

men  upon  earth  so  devoted  to  the  old  fellow  at  Romeo 
It  is  nauseating  to  a  degree  to  hear  them  talk  about  hira. 
You  know,  in  Palestine  here,  the  monks  are  chiefly 
foreigners ;  I  mean  recent  importation  of  live  stock,  dis- 
tinguished from  the  foreigners  whelped  on  the  soil.  North- 
ward, however,  whither  we  now  proceed,  the  convents 
are  peopled  by  the  latter  class.  The  Maronites  are  native 
Syrians;  not  forming  a  part  of  the  Romish  Church,  but 
given  to  the  same  edifying;  practices.  A  curse  upon  all 
idolatry  !'  he  added,  clenching  his  teeth,  and  scowling, 
as  Alick  had  once  or  twice  before  seen  him  do,  when  ad* 
verting  to  poor  Wilhelm's  adventures.  He  took  no  notice 
of  it,  but  proceeded,  'Do  tell  me  what  you  think  of 
Popery,  as  distinguished  from  the  other  sects  of  Christ* 
ianity  ?' 

'  Why,  it  is  all  idolatry,'  answered  Da  Costa  ;  '  but  with 
this  difference,  that  in  England,  Popery  is  the  only  branch 
of  it  that  worships  stocks  and  stones  ;  while  here,  every 
form  of  Christianity  does  so.  You  know  what  a  jumble 
there  is  in  London  ;  Churchmen,  Presbyterians,  Baptists, 
and  some  fifty  more,  who  agree  in  nothing  but  eschewing 
image-worship,  and  deifying  the  Nazarene  ;  but  here  there 
is  no  Protestantism — all,  Greeks,  Latins,  Armenians,  Ma- 
ronites— all  follov/  the  practices  of  the  original  race — the 
seven  nations  whom  our  fathers  cast  out  of  the  land.' 

'  How  bitter  he  is!'  thought  Alick;  then  aloud  he  said, 
'  After  all.  Da  Costa,  seeing  we  have  the  true  faith,  should 
we  not  rather  pity  these  people,  and  pray  for  theml' 

'  Of  course,'  replied  the  other,  carelessly  :  'but  Cohen, 
I'll  answer  your  question  as  to  Popery  more  to  the  point. 
I  do  hold  it  to  be  the  most  abominable  prostration  of  hu- 
man intellect  on  the  part  of  the  many  to  the  few  that  ever 
under  heaven  existed.  As  to  the  other  sects,  thev  invest 
the  object  of  their  worship  with  the  character  and  the 
attributes  of  the  Most  High ;  they  say  he  did  such  works 


judah's  lion.  289 

as  man  could  not  perform  ;  they  believe  that  he  rose  from 
the  dead  and  ascended  into  heaven  ;  and  for  this  they  even 
allege  supposed  predictions  in  the  Bible,  which,  if  they 
Mrould  bear  the  meaning  assigned  to  them,  might  justify 
such  belief;  but  Popery,  not  content  with  all  this,  super- 
adds such  a  mass  of  senseless  enormities  ;  the  adoration  of 
images,  wafers,  and  dead  people  for  whom  they  don't  claim 
any  divinity  at  all,  that  the  multitude  who  allow  a  knavish 
priesthood  to  lead  them  into  it  for  their  own  palpable 
gain  and  honor,  must  be  brutified  far  below  the  nature  of 
man.' 

'  And  it  is  notorious,'  said  Alick,  '  that  not  only  our 
scriptures  but  the  New  Testament  also  denominate  idol- 
atry as  hateful  to  God :  how  can  such  practices  prevail, 
where  the  authority  of  the  Bible  is  admitted  V 

'  Through  the  assumed  power  of  what  they  call  the 
church,  to  add  to  the  word  of  God,  and  to  bind  the  peo- 
ple's consciences  to  do  not  only  what  he  has  not  com- 
manded, but  what  he  has  forbidden.'  Then,  as  if  suddenly 
recollecting  himself,  and  wishing  to  prevent  farther  re- 
mark, he  exclaimed,  '  After  all,  the  Turk  is  the  most 
sensible  fellow  among  them,  notwithstanding  his  infamous 
treatment  of  us;  and  I'll  tell  you  what,  Cohen,  I'd  rather 
hear  the  Muezzim  from  the  minaret  than  see  a  crucifix 
in  Jerusalem.' 

'  So  would  I,'  answered  Alick;  '  for  I  loathe  the  wooden 
idol.' 

'  I  might  have  steeled  you  for  ever  against  Christianity,' 
resumed  Da  Costa,  '  by  taking  you  into  what  they  call 
the  "church  of  the  sepulchre,"  but  I  would  not  pollute 
myself  by  crossing  its  threshold.' 

'  They  are  not  Protestants  who  go  there,  though.' 

'  Not  to  enact  the  profane  farce  ;  but  I  have  seen  Pro- 
testant gentlemen,  aye,  and  right  pious  Protestant  clergy- 
men, pressing  into  it,  for  a  sight,  and  thereby  a  share,  in 


290  judah's  lion. 

the  disgraceful  buffoonery.  Such  was  not  the  command 
of  God  to  nsj  Cohen,  when  he  forbade  our  even  inquiring 
how  other  nations  served  their  gods,  or  taking  their  names 
into  our  mouths.  How  gracious,  how  beautifully  calcu- 
lated to  secure  his  people  from  all  error  is  the  law  of  the 
Lord,  delivered  by  Moses  unto  our  fathers !' 

'I'll  tell  you  what.  Da  Costa,'  said  Alick,  'ever  since 
I  learned  to  look  into  the  Scriptures,  I  feel  like  a  person 
who,  having  always  hobbled  about  on  two  lame  legs,  sud- 
denly finds  a  strong  staff  put  into  his  hands,  by  means  of 
which  he  may  get  cheerily  along.  In  every  word  there 
is  something  one  may  lean  upon  as  a  sure  support ;  and 
as  yet  I  have  met  with  nothing  that  wants  explaining  by 
man — I  seem  to  understand  it  all,  as  a  familiar  discourse 
addressed  to  myself     Everything  suits  me.' 

Da  Costa  made  no  reply.  Presently  they  arrived  at  a 
cluster  of  low  buildings,  in  appearance  mere  dead  walls, 
piled  together ;  but  here  they  alighted,  and  were  soon 
joined  by  a  small  party  of  Arabs  whose  garb  and  aspect 
were  much  ruder  than  any  that  Alick  had  yet  seen.  A 
large  cumbrous  garment  of  rough  hair  enveloped  their 
persons,  from  beneath  which  gleamed  weapons  of  various 
kinds.  Their  heads  were  wrapped  in  shawls,  so  disposed 
as  to  cover  the  neck  and  brow  ;  and  the  faces  that  looked 
out  from  the  midst  of  their  uncouth  drapery  were  perfectly 
in  keeping  with  the  costume.  He  who  appeared  as  their 
chief,  or  leader,  was  the  least  prepossessing  among  a  parly 
of  five,  whose  general  character  was  repulsiveness  itself. 
After  some  private  conversation  with  this  man,  Da  Costa 
returned  to  Alick,  and  asked  him  whether  he  thought  he 
could  make  himself  at  home  in  a  dress  like  those  he  saw 
before  him  % 

'  I  have  no  objection  ;  but  certainly  our  pale  skins  will 
discover  us,  if  a  disguise  is  what  you  aim  at,  unless  we 
contrive  to  tint  them.' 


judah's  liox.  291 

'That  is  easily  done,'  answered  the  other:  and  in  a 
very  short  time  they  were  so  transformed  that  Alick  would 
not  have  recognized  himself  any  more  than  he  could  his 
companion,  under  the  complete  metamorphosis  that  had 
taken  place.  His  naturally  mirthful  spirits  rose  to  their 
former  pitch,  while  surveying  Da  Costa,  whose  grave, 
anxious  face  heightened  the  contrast  with  his  former 
self— 'My  dear  fellow!  what  a  paragraph  for  the  Morn- 
ing Post  we  should  furnish  !  It  was  worth  some  pains- 
taking to  become  such  accomplished  masqueraders.' 

Da  Costa  smiled  as  he  looked  on  him,  and  said,  '  Would 
Esther  acknowledge  us  now?' 

'  Esther  1  what,  my  cousin  Esther  1  why  I  never 
named  her  to  you  !' 

'  No,  but  others  have  done  so  :  and  now,  Alick,  since 
we  are  embarked  in  an  enterprise  of  considerable  diffi- 
culty and  some  danger,  I  may  as  well  give  poor  Wil- 
helm  a  sort  of  claim  on  your  now  gratuitous  sympathy, 
by  telling  you  that  in  aiding  to  rescue  him  you  will  con- 
fer a  boon  on  Esther,  such  as  her  inmost  heart  will  ac- 
knowledge to  the  end  of  her  days.' 

'  I'll  stick  at  nothing  to  do  that,'  exclaimed  Alick,  with 
energy.  '  Poor  dear  Esther !  many  a  sigh  has  my  per- 
verse liberalism  caused  her,  and  many  an  ill-natured 
thing  have  I  said  and  done  to  cross  her  devoted  attach- 
ment to  the  faith  of  her  fathers.  I  wanted  no  spur  in 
this  matter:  but  if  she,  dear  girl,  takes  the  interest  you 
seem  to  imply  in  Wilhelm,  it  will  prove  a  sharp  one  to 
my  zeal  in  his  cause.' 

'  They  have  long  been  attached,  and  indeed  betrothed, 
secretly.' 

'  But  Wilhelm  did  not  visit  at  our  house.' 

'  No  :  Esther  passed  some  months  in  Germany  among 
his  friends.' 

*  I   remember    it:    and   also   that  she  brought  home 


29S  judah's  Liorii 

thence  a  copy  of  the  law  and  of  the  prophets,  which  I 
often  detected  her  studying  so  profoundly  that  I  used  to 
banter  her  upon  it :  I  knew  no  better  then.' 

'  Well,  we  must  now  proceed ;  my  worthy  friend 
Sheikh  Abdalla  looks  impatient.' 

On  hearing  himself  named,  the  leader  approached,  and 
Da  Costa  inquired  in  what  mode  they  should  traveL 
Camels  were  named,  at  which  Alick  petitioned  for  a 
horse,  or  at  least  a  mule,  but  was  told  they  must  be  satis- 
fied with  camels  until  they  had  made  some  progress  on 
the  route. 

'  I  don't  like  that  fellow  at  all,'  muttered  Alick  to  his 
friend,  'and  I  wish  you  would  insist  on  our  being  so  mount- 
ed as  to  admit  of  acting  in  self-defence,  if  called  on. 
With  this  whimsical  dress,  and  astride  on  one  of  those 
long-necked  hunchbacks,  with  his  intellectual  face  and 
discomposing  trot,  I  shall  be  as  helpless  as  a  babe  in  the 
cradle.' 

'  Oh,  never  fear  ;  our  companions  are  friendly  and  will 
take  good  care  of  us.' 

'  I'd  rather  by  half  take  care  of  myself,  though,'  thought 
the  youth,  as  he  suffered  himself  to  be  placed  on  the 
back  of  the  docile  creature,  who  kneeled  down  to  receive 
him. 

It  was  now  that  he  might  really  be  said  to  have  entered 
upon  Oriental  life  ;  and  the  momentary  dissatisfaction 
soon  gave  way  to  pleasanter  feelings. 

Before  ihem  lay  a  track  as  magnificently,  wildly  glori- 
ous as  imagination  could  picture.  Mountains  rising  ab- 
ruptly to  an  immense  height,  every  chasm  in  their  bold, 
rocky  crags  shooting  forth  some  species  of  graceful  or 
gorgeous  vegetation,  crested  with  trees  of  gigantic  stature, 
yet  light  and  feathery  as  the  plumage  of  a  bird  ;  here 
they  might  discern  the  mouth  of  a  cavern,  screened  by 
masses  of  arbutus,  rhododendron,  and  the  prolific  nopal ; 


j0dah's  lion.  293 

there,  perched  on  the  brow  of  a  naked  precipice,  some 
semblance  of  a  building,  but  whether  inhabited,  or  merely 
a  solitary  ruin,  the  eye  could  not  at  such  a  depth  decide. 
Winding-  along  the  foot  of  this  mountain-barrier,  the  tra- 
vellers frequently  found  themselves  among  fragments 
which  bespoke  the  ancient  site  of  edifices  now  crumbling 
into  dust :  and  one  of  these  extended  so  far,  and  exhibited 
such  massive  blocks  of  stone,  bearing  the  marks  of  fine 
proportion,  and  elaborate  sculpture,  that,  being  on  nearly 
a  level  plain,  intermixed  with  the  richest,  loveliest, 
choicest  vegetation,  profusely  covering  the  few  ruins  not 
actually  sunk  into  the  soil,  Alick  remarked,  '  This  must 
have  been  a  city,  rather  than  a  cluster  of  edifices.' 

'  Some  noble  city,  beyond  a  doubt,'  answered  Da 
Costa,  '  which  sent  up  its  stately  sons  to  Jerusalem  to 
keep  the  appointed  feasts.  The  whole  country  up  to  the 
mountain  tops,  was  inhabited  :  the  denseness  of  its  popu- 
lation, compared  with  the  extent  of  territory,  was  prodi- 
gious. Every  rood  of  ground  must  have  been  made  avail- 
able for  tillage  or  pasturage  :  every  hill  mantled  with 
vineyards  and  olive-grounds.  Of  this  you  will  perceive 
tokens,  go  where  we  may.  We  tread  on  the  ashes  of  our 
fathers,  (may  they  rest  in  peace !)  and  the  lonely  wilder- 
ness around  us  was  the  mart,  the  palace,  the  garden  of 
the  world.' 

'  Was,  and  shall  be  !'  said  Alick,  as  he  stroked  the  lonw 
neck  of  the  camel  that  carried  him.  '  How  could  I  ob- 
ject to  mount  this  creature,  descendant  as  he  is  of  a  race 
who  rejoiced  in  the  fostering  care  of  my  fathers,  and  is 
preserved  to  aid  in  the  future  tiiumph  of  their  sons. 
•'The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee."  Perhaps 
this,  even  this  poor  animal  is  one  destined  to  the  fulfil- 
ment of  prophecy,  when  the  cities  of  Judah  shall  again 
be  inhabited  !' 

Again   he  looked  around  ;  and  as  they  skirted  the  ab- 
26 


294  JUDAH  S   LlONd 

rupt  acclivity,  he  saw  an  upland  path,  entering  the  mouth 
of  a  defile,  that  seemed  to  issue  in  a  very  steep  ladder- 
like  track,  inaccessible  to  any  but  the  most  daring  pedes- 
trian. Here  they  paused  for  a  while,  Da  Costa  continu- 
ing in  earnest  discourse  with  the  Sheikh,  and  both  waxing 
rather  warm.  A  lick  longed  lo  ascend  the  path,  to  obtain  a 
more  extended  view,  but  how  they  were  to  mount  it  was 
a  question  he  could  not  solve.  At  length  the  Sheikh 
drew  towards  his  men,  with  increased  sullenness  of  aspect; 
and  Da  Costa,  rejoining  Alick,  remarked^  '  1  gave  myself 
credit  for  having  provided  against  all  difficulties  and  pre- 
cluded all  dispute  ;  but  these  fellows  are  wholly  intracta- 
ble— wholly  unfathomable — and  I  am  fairly  at  a  nonplus.' 

'  "  His  hand  against  every  man,  and  every  man's  hand 
against  him,"  '  repeated  Alick  :  'and  you  never  can  put 
them  down  ;  for  "  He  shall  dwell  in  the  presence  of  his 
brethren.'^' ' 

'  How  complacent  you  are  at  the  most  unreasonable, 
vexatious,  rascally  conduct  that  ever  men  were  exposed  to!' 

*  Yes  ;  for  when  I  see,  even  at  my  own  expense,  the 
promise  of  Cod  fulfilled  to  a  wild  Ishmaelite,  it  strength- 
ens my  assurance  that  the  seed  of  Jacob  shall  be  remem- 
bered, too,  in  his  time.' 

'  Ah,  Cohen,  I  know  more  Scripture  than  you,  but  your 
little  goes  ten  times  as  far  as  my  much,  because  you  ap- 
ply it — you  realize  it — so  delightfully.  Weil,  I  won't 
seek  to  put  down  these  most  obstinate  half-broihers  of 
ours  ;  but  try  a  little  fraternal  coaxing.' 

He  approached  the  group,  whose  dark  looks  were  very 
portentous  ;  what  he  said,  Alick  did  not  hear,  but  their 
countenances  soon  relaxed,  and  the  Shiekh's  tone  became 
more  amicable.  '  So  much  for  the  value  of  a  soft  answer,' 
thought  Alick,  assured  by  his  friend's  pleasant  manner  and 
kind  voice,  that  he  had  tried  its  efficacy.  Da  Costa  soon 
came  back^  and  told  him  they  had  agreed   to  a  compro" 


judah's  lion.  295 

mise,  by  which  his  plans  would  be  less  deranged  than  he 
had  feared.  Alick  asked  if  Shiekh  Abdalla  was  the  same 
he  had  once  mentioned,  as  aiding  him  to  search  the  con- 
vent. '  No,  no,  not  he.  My  noble  band  are  genuine 
sons  of  the  desert,  different  enough  from  these  peculating 
Bedouins,  whom  I  would  not  take  a  bird's-nesting  in  the 
hedges  of  Harrow,  to  say  nothing  of  a  Maronite  rookery 
on  Mount  Lebanon.  But  come,  I  see  we  are  to  proceed : 
I  desired  to  halt  here,  and  await  the  mules,  which  I  very 
well  know  are  within  call ;  but  we  must  make  the  next 
pass,  which  is  far  more  steep  and  impracticable,  beyond 
which  I  will  stir  no  step  on  the  plain.' 

They  proceeded  ;  and  night  overtook  them  before  any 
sign  of  access  to  the  lofiy  heights  appeared.  '  I  am  now 
convinced,' said  Da  Cosla,  'that  we  have  wholly  missed 
the  route  I  was  resolved  to  take,  and  that  bur  present 
track  will  bring  us  to  a  point  on  which  I  nieb^er  c^^ulated.' 

'  In  that  case,'  said  Alick,  '  I  should  be  inclined  to 
hope  that  we  were  guided  to  the  attainment  of  our  wishes 
against  our  wills.  Perhaps  the  wrong  path  is  blocked  up 
that  we  may  stray  into  the  right.' 

'  Perhaps  so  :  at  all  events  your  philosophy  is  of  a  most 
seasonable  and  tranquillizing  character.' 

'  My  philosophy,'  thought  Alick,  '  is  drawn  from  the 
Bible.     I  wonder  he  does  not  see  that.' 

The  Arabs  soon  constructed  a  rude  tent,  by  which,  and 
a  projection  of  a  rock,  they  were  all  sheltered  ;  but  Alick 
preferred  the  unfettered  fragrant  breezes  of  Palestine  to 
every  accommodation  they  could  offer,  and  what  little 
sleep  he  got  was  enjoyed  under  a  high  and  wide-spreading 
cypress.  His  mind  was  full  of  Israel's  future  glory  in  that 
land  of  all  their  hopes  ;  and,  though  not  disinclined  for 
any  adventure,  the  present  expedition  had  little  share  in 
his  thoughts,  save  as  connected  with  Esther.  He  dreamed 
of  her  as  disputing  with  little  Charley  over  the  Scriptures, 


296    '  judah's  lion. 

and  awoke  to  find  the  tent  dismantled,  and  the  party 
preparing  to  move,  which,  after  some  refreshment,  thej' 
did. 

'  Well,  Da  Costa,'  said  he,  as  some  of  the  visions  of  the 
night  recurred  to  his  mind,  '  when  shall  you  commence 
instructing  me  1  As  yet,  you  have  only  transferred  me 
from  the  society  of  Christians  to  that  of  Mussulmen.' 

'  Patience,  Cohen  j  we  shali  soon  be  in  better  circum- 
stances.' 

But  Da  Costa  was  mistaken  :  they  had  not  proceeded 
far»  when  an  unusual  stir  among  their  companions,  with 
indications  of  no  small  dismay,  attracted  their  notice,  and 
Abdalla  told  them  he  feared  a  bodv  of  hostile  character 
was  not  far  off;  and  in  that  case  they  must  all  defend 
themselves.  '  Give  me  a  horse,  or  a  mule,'  exclaimed 
Alick,  '  and  I  can  play  my  part :  but  on  this  camel  I  am 
just  helpless.'    I» 

'An  hour  farther  on  we  should  find  them,'  said  the 
Shiekh,  '  but  does  the  earth  bring  forth  horses  that  I 
should  furnish  one  here  1' 

'  Two  of  your  men,  and  yourself,  are  well  mounted  ; 
you  can  manage  one  beast  as  well  as  the  other — change 
with  me.' 

'  Push  on,'  said  Da  Costa,  who  knew  the  hopelessness 
of  this  request ;  '  and  let  us  try  for  the  halting-place  you 
speak  of.' 

Instead  of  this,  the  Arabs  commenced  a  consultation; 
and  then  the  Shiekh,  with  a  grave  face,  told  Da  Costa  that 
as  they  might  be  separated  in  the  combat  in  which  they 
were  likely  to  be  presently  engaged,  it  would  be  better 
to  settle  beforehand  what  was  due  between  them.  The 
other,  though  his  eyes  flashed  with  anger,  as  gravely  and 
quietly  declined  ;  and,  on  his  attempting  to  proceed,  the 
Arabs  in  front  wheeled  round,  declaring  that  they  would 
go  no  farther  till  their  Shiekh  was  satisfied. 


JUDAH^S  LION.  297 

A  sound,  coming  from  some  distance,  now  reached 
them,  and  appeared  the  signal  for  decisive  measures.  The 
Arabs,  evidently  under  some  trepidation,  made  a  rush, 
and  snatched  at  the  weapons  of  the  Jews.  Da  Costa  had 
a  very  valuable  brace  of  pistols  stuck  in  his  girdle,  and 
these  appeared  to  be  the  principal  attraction,  for  several 
hands  were  stretched  out  at  once  towards  them,  while 
others  bore  down  on  Alick.  How,  or  by  whom  the  shot 
was  fired,  he  did  not  know  ;  but  he  heard  a  shot,  saw  Da 
Costa  fall,  and  at  the  same  moment,  galloping  at  the  top  of 
their  speed,  appeared  a  party  of  horsemen  on  the  brow  of 
a  rising  eminence  before  them.  Short  space  remained  for 
Sheikh  Abdalla  and  his  band:  they  wrested  from  Alick's 
shoulders  his  uncouth  cloak  ;  from  his  camel,  the  little 
package  that  carried  his  best  treasure,  the  Hebrew  Bible, 
and  a  few  prized  articles,  and  seizing  the  bridle  of  the 
beast  from  which  Da  Costa  had  fallen,  and  on  which  was 
a  more  extensive  booty,  they  turned  back,  dashed  away, 
and  dissappeared  before  the  advancing  party  could  come 
up.  Alick  flung  himself  from  his  camel,  wholly  absorbed 
by  anxious  alarm  for  Da  Costa,  who  was  bleeding  from  the 
knee,  but  sensible.  '  Escape  !'  he  exclaimed,  as  Alick 
kneeled  on  the  ground  beside  him. 

'  And  leave  you  1  No,  truly.  Are  fyou  much  hurt, 
Da  Costa  r 

'  Yes — badly,' — he  was  in  dreadful  pain  ;  and  Alick 
scarcely  heeded,  in  his  efforts  to  staunch  the  wound,  the 
suffocating  cloud  of  dust  in  which  the  advancing  troop  en- 
veloped them. 

They  were  Egyptians,  scouring  the  country  on  behalf 
of  Ibrahim  Pasha  j  and  on  coming  up  they  laid  hold  at 
once  on  Alick,  uttering  many  words  of  which  he  was 
wholly  ignorant.  They  proceeded  to  bind  his  hand*, 
when  suddenly  one  among  them  uttered  the  word  '  Giaour' 
sn  a  tone  of  such  surprise  and  exultation  as  made  his  cora- 
26* 


298  judah's  lion. 

rades  press  to  learn  the  cause.  Poor  Alick's  vest  liad  been 
so  rent  in  the  struggle — for  neither  to  the  Arabs  nor  the 
Egyptians  did  he  yield  without  a  fierce  conflict, — that  his 
side  was  exposed  beyond  where  Da  Costa  had  thought  it 
needful  to  apply  the  coloring  wash  ;  and  ripping  it  to  the 
fihoulder,  they  soon  detected  the  value  of  the  fictitious 
complexion.  A  like  scrutiny  was  held  on  Da  Costa,  who 
had  fainted  ;  and  among  the  shouts  and  jeers  of  the  rude 
Egyptian  soldiers,  the  wounded  Israelite  was  thrown  across 
the  camel  that  had  been  Alick's,  and  he  himself,  bound, 
and  fastened  by  a  thong  to  the^  wrist  of  the  mounted 
Egyptian  who  led  the  camel,  was  compelled  to  walk. 

What  had  occurred  took  place  within  a  few  minutes, 
and  bore  so  much  the  aspect  of  a  dream  to  poor  Alick  that 
he  scarcely  believed  it  otherwise.  Severe  pain,  however, 
roused  him  to  a  full  sense  of  the  reality ;  for  he  had  re- 
ceived some  contusions  in  the  scutfle  that  rendered  it  dif- 
ficult to  walk  at  the  pace  his  conductor  required,  and  a 
frequent  blow  urging  him  on,  increased  his  sufferings. 
Gladly  would  he  have  endured  tenfold  greater  to  purchase 
a  little  tenderness  for  his  wounded  friend,  whose  groans 
pierced  his  heart,  as  he  strove  to  change  his  miserable  po- 
sition ;  while  every  effort,  baffled  as  it  was  by  the  straps 
that  bound  him,  only  elicited  the  jests  or  provoked  the  fe- 
rocious menaces  of  his  barbarous  guards.  In  this  way  they 
proceeded,  until  near  noon,  when  a  halt  was  commanded, 
and  under  the  shelter  of  a  clump  of  trees  the  party  dis- 
mounted, and  proceeded  to  regale  themselves. 

An  officer  under  whose  direction  the  prisoners  had  been 
bound,  now  sauntered  by  them,  and  without  stopping  ut- 
tered a  few  words,  on  which  a  little  dirty  water,  and  some^ 
thing  resembling  coarse  barley  bread  was  given  to  Alick. 
His  thiist  was  intense  ;  but  merely  moistening  his  lips  and 
palate  with  what  he  would  have  given  worlds  to  quaff,  he 
lifted  the  cruse  to  Da  Costa's  mouth,  who  drank  it  so  eager- 


judah's  lion.  299 

iy  that  the  sight  overpaid  his  self-denial.  As  yet,  neither 
had  spoken  ;  Da  Cosla  seeming  unable  so  to  do,  and  Alick 
was  deterred  by  the  threatening  gesture  of  his  guards, 
whenever  he  seemed  about  to  address  his  companion.  It 
was  evident  that  the  party  was  a  most  disorderly  one,  and 
some  strong  beverage  was  now  taking  effect  on  the  greater 
number,  whose  shouts  and  riotous  mirth  became  deafening. 
One,  under  great  excitement,  staggered  towards  the  prison- 
ers,  and  brandished  a  long  knife  in  Alick's  face,  until  ano- 
ther struck  it  aside,  and  a  struggle  ensued,  in  which  seve- 
ral were  engaged  before  the  madman  could  be  disarmed. 
Suddenly  a  movement  took  place,  comparative  order  was 
restored,  and  the  officer,  rapidly  passing,  issued  an  order* 
in  obedience  to  which  Da  Costa  and  Alick  were  hurried  a 
little  asidcj  the  former  being  laid  on  the  grass,  the  latter 
seated  near  him,  and  three  soldiers,  with  scymetars  drawn, 
stood  in  military  attitude,  guarding  them^  The  band  had 
divided  into  two  portions,  leaving  a  space,  a  few  yards  in 
,  width,  and  Alick  was  able  to  form  a  better  judgement 
than  before  of  their  numbers,  which  were  not  under  twen- 
ty, all  formidably  armed.  It  was  evident  they  were  in  a 
state  of  expectation,  their  eyes  frequently  turned  in  the  di' 
rection  whither  they  had  been  travelling,  and  just  as  the 
tramp  of  horses'  feet  reached  Alick's  ear,  he  remarked  a 
most  grim,  ferocious  expression  of  hostility  succeeding  the 
levity  that  had  prevailed ^  He  looked  in  the  direction  of 
the  sound,  and  leisurely  trotting  their  horses  up  a  gentle 
slope,  he  saw  four  men  in  a  garb  no  less  dear  than  famil- 
iar to  him  ;  it  was  the  uniform  of  the  British  Navy. 

What  were  his  feelings  !  Deliverance  was  the  first 
thought,  and  his  heart  beat  high  with  hope — a  single  word 
of  appeal,  and  rescue  was  certain  ;  but,  alas!  a  moment's 
recollection  told  him  that  English  influence  could  have  no 
weight  with  such  a  rude,  disorderly  horde  ;  and  that  any 
attempt  at  interference  on  their  behalf  might  afford  a  pre» 


300  JUDAH*S    LIONi 

text  for  some  outrage  for  which  they  were  plainly  dis» 
posed,  and  in  which  their  numbers  and  weapons  would 
give  them  too  great  an  advantage  for  even  English  prow<- 
ess  to  withstand.  Besides,  there  was  an  evident  determi- 
nation on  the  part  of  their  guards  to  prevent  any  speech 
between  him  and  the  travellers.  Meanwhile,  the  party 
had  arrived  nearly  opposite  them.  The  Egyptian  officer 
came  forward,  and  a  paper  was  handed  to  him,  the  name 
of  Ibrahim  Pasha  being  at  the  same  time  uttered.  This 
was  carefully  examined,  and  returned,  and  as  the  foremost 
of  the  Englishmen  rode  on,  Alick  caught  a  sight  of  one  in 
the  rear,  and  uttered  an  involuntary  exclamation,  that  pro 
cured  him  a  terrible  blow  across  the  mouth  from  the  flat 
of  a  scymetan  He  saw  Gordon,  the  gunner  of  the  ship ; 
and  saw  his  eye  fixed  on  him,  but  with  no  sign  of  recog- 
nition. Forgetting  at  the  moment  his  disguise,  the  Arab 
garb,  and  Arab  complexion  that  he  had  assumed,  it  wrung 
his  heart  to  be  so  disowned  in  the  hour  of  his  deep  calami- 
ty :  but  again  he  remembered ;  and  as  the  Englishmen 
quietly  proceeded  on  their  way,  a  feeling  of  thankfulness 
for  their  safety  prevailed  over  all  selfish  regret :  he  wiped 
his  bleeding  lips,  and  resigned  himself  to  the  overpowering 
recollections  which  the  transient  glimpse  of  the  good  gun- 
ner's well-remembered  face  had  called  up- 


CHAPTER   XXI, 


There  are  few  situations  in  life  so  painful,  as  not  to  be 
aggravated  by  the  addition  of  uncertainty.  Alick  Cohen 
was  a  prisoner,  in  the  hands  of  pitiless  barbarians  ;  he  was 
suffering  in  mind,  in  body,  and  estate.  The  friend  for 
whom  he  had  relinquished  all  others,  and  who  was  to  have 
been  his  guide  into  what  he  was  taught  to  believe  was  the 
only  way  of  acceptably  serving  God,  was  in  worse  plight ; 
nearly  insensible,  and  probably  dying  before  him.  They 
had  also  been  taken  in  the  worst  company,  for  Abdalla 
and  his  band  had  proved  themselves  robbers  ;  and  their 
own  disguise  bespoke  a  wilful,  premeditated  identification 
with  those  dishonest  associates.  The  men,  too,  who  of  all 
others  would  have  been  most  likely  to  disregard  the  odds, 
and  freely  venture  their  lives  to  deliver  them,  had  looked 
on  them  with  evident  compassion,  but  without  ever  dream- 
ing thai  they  were  fellow-countrymen,  or  aught  but  what 
they  appeared  to  be,  criminals  in  the  hands  of  justice  ;  yet 
all  these  aggravations  were  less  in  Alick's  sight  than  the 
tormenting  uncertainty  as  to  their  present  destination  and 
impending  fate. 

That  the  latter  would  be  summary  judgment  and  death, 
was  exceeding  probable  ;  but  Alick,  though  naturally 
brave  to  recklessness,  was  not  able  to  contemplate  a  sud- 
den doom  without  such  a  revulsion  of  feeling  as  made 


302  JtJDAH's  LION. 

him  tremble  all  over.  Conviction  of  his  personal  sinful- 
ness had  fixed  itself  too  deeply  in  his  soul  to  admit  of 
self-deception  there  ;  and  he  felt  that  he  had  been  trifling 
with  a  season  of  rare  opportunities,  while  deferring  to 
some  future  day  the  settlement  of  the  solemn  question, 
How  should  that  sin  of  his  heart  and  life  be  atoned  for  1 
He  ought  not  to  have  rested  until  he  ascertained  the  true 
character  of  Him  whom  he  was  invited  to  regard  as  his 
Saviour ;  for  whether  Jew  or  Gentile,  he  could  not  enter 
into  the  presence  of  the  God  of  heaven  without  some  pro- 
pitiation for  his  sins.  '  What  avails  it  to  me,'  thought  he, 
'that  I  am  of  the  race  to  whom  God  gave  this  fair  land, 
over  which  I  am  now  goaded  like  a  beast  to  the  shambles 
— what  avails  it,  that  my  race  shall  again  possess  this  land, 
and  rejoice  therein  to  the  end  of  time,  if  my  soul  is  lost, 
and  my  portion  is  in  Gehenna,  where  hope  coraeth  not  1 
And  not  only  with  my  own  safety,  but  with  that  of  my 
poor  brother  here,  how  cruelly  have  I  trifled  !  I  felt  sure 
that  my  inquiries  would  end  in  beholding  in  Jesus  of  Na- 
zareth, the  desire  of  nations — the  King  of  Israel ;  but  I 
resolved  to  bring  to  a  practical  test  what  I  already  know 
to  be  unsatisfying,  insufficient ;  and  I  meant  to  take  the 
same  circuitous  route  with  respect  to  poor  Da  Costa. 
What  ensues  1  Destruction  like  a  whirlwind  has  come 
upon  us,  and  he  dies  wholly  rejecting  One  who  probably 
holds  the  keys  of  heaven,  and  whom  I  half  love,  half 
dread — whom  I  do  not  acknowledge,  yet  dare  not  defy. 
Yet  may  I  not  even  now  confess  him,  and  throw  my  cause 
into  his  hands  1  How  then  shall  I  answer  it,  if  he  be  not 
what  I  would  wish  him  to  be?  and  how  shall  that  secret 
wish  be  forgiven  by  Him  whose  name  is  Jealous.' 

The  Egyptian  party  had  moved  on,  and  a  soldier  less 
savage  than  the  former  had  charge  of  the  captives.  He 
marked  the  faltering  steps  of  Alick,  whose  face  was  more- 
over much  disfigured  b}'  the  blow  that  had  cut  his  lip,  and 


JtTDAH's   LION.  303 

swollen  it  greatly.  This  man,  having  lifted  his  whip  to 
strike  him  when  he  flagged,  suddenly  dropped  his  arm, 
and  taking  from  his  saddle  a  small  leather  case,  gave  him 
to  drink,  but  would  not  allow  him  to  share  it  with  Da 
Costa.  The  beverage  was  refreshingly  cool,  and  invigo- 
rating also  ;  and  the  graceful  courtesy  of  Alick's  respect- 
ful obeisance,  as  he  returned  the  cruse,  seemed  to  win  yet 
more  upon  his  Egyptian  guide.  After  a  while,  he  threw 
the  thong  to  a  comrade,  rode  up  to  his  officer,  and  made 
some  representation,  which  was  very  surlily  repulsed  :  he 
returned,  looking  dark  and  fierce,  and  Alick  trembled  lest 
Da  Costa,  whose  sensitiveness  to  pain  seemed  on  the  in- 
crease, should  suffer  under  a  savage  ebullition.  It  was 
otherwise  however  j  the  soldier,  as  he  rode  back,  had 
plucked  some  delicious  fruit  from  a  tree  overhanging  the 
I'oad,  and  this  he  gave  to  Alick,  pointing  at  the  same  time 
to  Da  Costa,  and  giving  sufficient  freedom  to  Alick's  hands 
to  admit  of  his  administering  the  welcome  juice  to  his  fe» 
ver-parched  comrade. 

How  unspeakably  soothing  to  the  wounded  spirit  is 
sympathy  !  Alick  looked  up  in  the  face  of  his  swarthy 
guard,  and  murmured  a  blessing  from  the  depths  of  his 
heart.  He  went  on  more  cheerily,  and  strove  to  ascer- 
tain the  bearings  of  their  road,  that  he  might,  when  arriv- 
ing at  any  town,  form  at  least  a  guess  as  to  the  locality ; 
but  it  was  impossible  to  make  anything  out,  so  eccentric 
appeared  their  zigzag  course.  The  heat  also  was  becom- 
ing too  intense  for  endurance,  and  he  feared  delirium  must 
ensue,  if  he  was  much  longer  exposed  to  it.  A  disposi- 
tion to  quicken  their  pace  soon  showed  itself  j  and  Alick 
was  once  more  mounted  upon  the  same  camel  that  carried 
Da  Costa,  under  whom  some  bundles  were  placed,  so  as  to 
form  a  sort  of  support.  Alick  would  gladly  have  afforded 
him  some  relief,  but  his  arms  were  bound  more  tightly 
than  before,  and  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  pre- 


304<  judah's  lion. 

serve  his  seat.  The  road  became  at  once  so  hilly  and  so 
stony,  that  nothing  but  the  conviction  of  their  near  ap- 
proach to  a  town  would  have  encouraged  him  sufficiently 
to  hold  on.  This  he  did  for  a  short  time,  not  daring  to  lift 
his  eyes,  lest  the  unexpected  jolt,  occasioned  by  frequent 
small  hollows  in  the  descending  road,  should  upset  him. 
All  his  care  and  caution  were  vain  :  a  blow,  part  of  which 
fell  on  him,  made  the  poor  animal  start,  and  Alick  was 
thrown  suddenly  to  the  ground,  and  became  insensible. 

When  he  recovered,  he  found  himself  in  what  seemed 
to  be  a  dungeon  :  four  walls  rose  to  a  height  of  some 
seven  or  eight  feet ;  and  a  small  aperture  in  the  upper 
part  of  one  of  them  afforded  light  enough  to  scan  the  di- 
mensions of  the  cell,  which  was  miserably  small.  The 
first  sound  that  caught  his  ear  was  of  some  quick,  heavy 
gasps,  as  of  one  breathing  in  great  pain.  He  uttered  the 
name  of  Da  Costa,  and  was  answered  by  him,  in  a  faint 
voice,  *  Cohen,  where  are  we  V 

*■  I  wish  I  knew  ;  but  probably  we  never  shall  discover 
it, — nor  will  our  fate  be  made  known.  I  remember  being 
in  the  act  of  falling,  but  beyond  that  1  am  ignorant.  It 
seems  to  me,  that  we  have  been  thrown  into  some  hovel 
by  the  way-side  to  perish.' 

'No:  confused  and  almost  fainting  as  I  was,  I  cannot 
be  mistaken  in  thinking  we  are  in  some  fortified  place.  I 
heard  martial  sounds,  and  the  hum  and  bustle  of  an  arrival 
in  somewhat  more  than  a  village.  It  may  be  a  camp.  It 
matters  not :  there  is  but  one  point  on  which  we  can  fix, 
in  our  present  circumstances,  with  a  violent  death  before 
us  ;  and  how  cheering  is  that  one  consideration  !' 

'  What  is  it,  Da  Costa  V  said  Alick  anxiously. 

•We  die  in  Judea:  our  ashes  will  mingle  with  the  sa- 
cred  soil ;  and  in  the  place  where  the  bones  of  our  fathers 
have  mouldered,  ours  also  shall  rest.' 

*  And  from  that  soil  we  shall  rise.' 


judah's  lion.  805 

'  Yes,  to  partake  in  Israel's  triumph.' 

Alick  sicrhed.     His  wounded  friend  half  raised  his  head 
and  asked,  '  Do  you  shrink  from  death,  Cohen  1 — remem- 
ber, our  journey  was  one  of  great  peril,  and  you  were  not 
backward  in  encountering  it.' 

'  I  do  not  fear  death  ;  but  your  last  remark  led  to  the 
solemn  question,  what  ground  have  I  to  expect  a  share  in 
Israel's  triumph  V 

'  You  are  a  Jew.' 

'  So  were  they.  Da  Costa,  on  whom,  at  different  times, 
the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  fell.  The  rebels,  idolators, 
and  despisers  of  his  grace,  for  whom  we  cannot  possibly 
imagine  that  any  share  in  the  future  glory  shall  belong. 
They  were  all  Jews.' 

*  But  we  are  not  as  they,  Cohen  ;  we  have  not  rebelled 
against  the  Lord.' 

'  1  have — many  a  day,  and  every  day  ;  and  it  is  useless 
to  blind  myself  to  the  fact.  I  have  not  fulfilled  the  law: 
I  have  not  refrained  my  foot  from  the  sabbath, — neither 
have  I  honored  my  parents, — neither  have  I  forborne  to 
covet ;  in  my  heart  I  have  set  up  idols, — and  1  have  taken 
the  name  of  the  Most  High  in  vain.' 

'  There  is  no  man  but  must  plead  guilty  to  some  of 
these  things,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 

'  No  :  therefore  all  men  need  to  bring  with  them  some- 
thing wherewith  to  propitiate  the  Lord  j  and  what  have  I 
to  bring  V 

'A  repentant  heart,  dear  Alick.' 

'  But  if  penitence  alone  would  suffice,  wherefore  were 
the  sacrifices  instituted  I  Why  was  such  an  iminense 
burden  of  ceremonial  usages  laid  on  our  fathers '?  and  why 
did  the  most  penitent  and  godly  show  the  greatest  dili- 
gence in  observing  them  1' 

Da  Costa  was  about  to  reply,  but  his  wound  became 
painful,  and  in  a  faint  voice  he  asked  Alick,  whether  he 
27 


306  judah's  lion. 

thought  any  water  was  left  beside  them  ;  or  any  meahs  of 
egress,  by  which  he  might  go  in  quest  of  some.  His 
hands  were  still  bound,  but  so  loosely  as  to  admit  of  freely 
using  them, — and  he  pushed  at  the  narrow  aperture  by 
■which  they  must  have  entered,  and  which  was  closed  by  a 
rude  but  strong  door.  It  yielded  to  his  hand,  and  he 
walked  out  into  a  narrow,  vaulted  passage,  half  hoping 
that  escape  might  be  practicable.  Here,  however,  he  was 
abruptly  met  by  an  Egyptian  soldier,  who,  in  very  good 
Arabic,  ordered  him  back.  A  lick  implored  a  little  water 
for  his  suffering  companion,  and  the  other  reaching  through 
a  side-door  which  Alick  had  not  observed,  handed  him  a 
pitcher,  which  he  took  with  so  many  thanks  that  his  grati- 
tude seemed  a  little  to  soften  the  guard.  When  Alick 
ventured  to  ask  where  they  were,  he  replied,  '  In  the  Gov" 
ernor's  prison.' 

'  What  governor  V  But  instead  of  a  reply  he  got  a  push 
toward  the  cell — the  soldier  following,  and  re-closing  the 
door  with  some  additional  fastenings.  When  Da  Costa 
heard  what  had  passed,  he  said,  '  The  fellows  who  brought 
us  here,  spoke  some  dialect  almost  wholly  unknown  to 
me  ;  I  caught  a  word  now  and  then,  but  nothing  connect- 
ed. They  were,  however,  doubtless  of  Ibrahim's  army, 
and  this  is  some  stronghold  for  which  they  were  marching 
when  they  fell  in  with  us.  To-morrow  we  may  expect 
to  be  brought  before  this  governor,  and  to  receive  our 
doom.' 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  before  the  party  had  reached 
this  place ;  and  now  the  increasing  light  convinced  thera 
that  day  had  broke,  before  they  became  aware  of  their 
situation.  Alick'shend  was  exceedingly  painful,  and  the 
sensation  produced  by  so  many  contusions,  added  to  ex- 
treme fatigue  and  want  of  food,  was  peculiarly  trying, 
from  its  novelty,  to  one  brought  up  in  the  very  lap  of  in- 
dulgence.    Yet  all  was  as  nothing,  compared  to  the  in- 


JUDAll's    LION.  307 

ternal  struggle.     Gordon's  image  was  still  present  to  him, 
as  when  he  first  pointed  out  those  passages  relating  to  the 
Lion  of  Judah,  and  from  them  preached  the  Gospel  to  his 
attentive  listener.     He  could  not  but  think  that  their  re- 
cent meeting  was  ordained  to  leave  him  without  excuse, 
rising  up  as  a  testimony  against  him  for  so  little  heeding 
what  he  heard.     Again  Charley's  declarations  sounded  in 
his  ear,  more  particularly  that  addressed  to  Ben-Melchor, 
the  immediate  cause  of  his  separation   from  the  friends 
who  so  earnestly  sought  his  soul's  welfare.     He  then  re- 
verted to  Charley's  sweet,  placid,  assured  hope  in  Christ, 
and  felt  how  precious  to  him  would  now  be  even  a  distant 
gleam  of  the  ray  that  shone  so  brightly  on  his  infant  friend. 
The  day  advanced,  and  at  one  time  a  broad  stream  of  sun- 
light shot  athwart  the  miserable  apartment,  through  the 
narrow  crevice  or  loophole,  which  showed  the  wall  to  be 
of  great  thickness;  and  by  this  light,  he  beheld  the  ghast- 
ly countenance  of  Da  Costa,  heightened  by  the  effect  of 
the  red  shawl  fastened  uncouthly  about  his  head,  and  the 
partial  disappearance  of  the  coloring  matter  that  tinged  his 
face — while  the  blood  from  his  wound  had  drenched  his 
lower  garments,  and  added  to  the  misery  of  his  appear- 
ance.    His  own  plight  was  very  little  better  ;  and  a  feel- 
ing more  forlorn  could  scarcely  be  imagined,  than  that  of 
Alick  Cohen,  whether  as  regarded  the  concerns  of  the 
body  or  of  the  soul. 

Towards  mid-day,  a  scanty  meal  of  boiled  rice  and  bad 
water  was  thrust  into  the  cell ;  but  even  this  was  a  wel- 
come luxury,  and  Alick  saw  with  joy  that  Da  Costa  was 
evidently  revived  by  it.  He  had  bound  up  his  wound  as 
well  as  he  could,  and  it  wore  every  appearance  of  being 
comparatively  slight — profuse  bleeding,  rather  than  the 
severity  of  the  hurt,  having  enfeebled  him  so  much ;  but 
Alick  dreaded  lest  the  want  of  proper  attention  might  pro- 
duce evil  effects.     Yet,  convinced  as  he  was  that  death 


308  JTTDAH^S    LIONo 

awaited  them  both,  it  was  of  small  moment ;  and  he  deep- 
ly longed,  as  for  his  own,  so  for  his  companion's  soul,  that 
any  assurance  of  safety  beyond  the  grave  could  be  arrived 
at.  He  was  meditating  on  the  best  mode  of  again  open- 
ing this  subject,  when  the  clatter  of  several  footsteps  ap- 
proaching the  cell  arrested  his  attention  ;  and  in  a  few 
moments  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  an  officer,  hand- 
somely equipped,  a  silken  tassel  drooping  from  his  high 
cap,  and  a  richly-decorated  sabre  in  his  hand,  entered, 
followed  by  a  soldier,  while  several  others  were  seen  in 
the  passage.  Alick  felt  as  though  the  instrument  of  death 
was  before  him,  and  at  the  same  moment  a  prayer,  which 
he  could  not  if  he  would  have  arrested,  rose  silentlv  but 
fervently  from  his  heart:  its  purport  was  that  of  Barti- 
meus, — '  Jesus,  thou  son  of  David,  have  mercy  upon 
me  !' 

The  officer  stood,  stooping — as  the  lowness  of  the  apart- 
ment compelled  him  to  do — and  for  a  minute  or  two  si- 
lently surveyed  the  prisoners  ;  then  asked  them,  '  What 
are  you  V 

In  one  breath  they  both  replied,  '  Jews,' 

The  officer  smiled  in  contempt,  and  replied,  'Ye  Be- 
douin rascals,  what  do  ye  expect  to  gain  by  claiming  kin- 
dred with  a  race  more  despicable  than  your  own  V 

'  We  are  not  Bedouins,'  answered  Da  Costa,  '  though 
-for  a  particular  purpose  we  assumed  the  dress  of  our  Arab 
guides.     We  are  Hebrews,  natives  of  England,  and  guilt- 
less of  any  offence  against  the  present  rulers  of  this  land- 
We  crave  to  be  released.' 

'  By  Mahomet,  you  have  a  brazen  forehead !  Where 
have  you  concealed  the  plunder,  the  arms  and  money,  the 
garments  and  provisions,  carried  off  four  days  since  from 
the  convent  1' 

'  We  have  been  near  no  convent ;  and  four  days  since 


judah's  lion.  309 

we  were  in  Jerusalem,  with  other  English  travellers — 
having  landed  at  Joppa  not  long  before.' 

'  Confession  will  better  serve  you  than  these  improbable 
falsehoods.  Abdalla  may  yet  be  overtaken,  and  for  him 
there  is  no  mercy.  Reveal  the  place  of  his  retreat,  re- 
store the  booty  carried  off,  and  I  will  intercede  for  you  : 
otherwise  your  doom  is  sealed.' 

'  How  can  we  reveal  that  of  which  we  know  nothing  1 
We  are  far  removed  from  those  who  could  at  once  dis- 
prove the  charge  against  us.  If  men's  lives  be  worth  a 
thought,  send  (for  you  have  the  means)  to  Jerusalem,  and 
inquire — ' 

'  Send  to  Jerusalem !'  repeated  the  officer,  with  a  laugh 
of  derision  :  '  Arab  or  Jew,  the  bastinado  will  compel  you, 
once  in  your  lives,  to  utter  truth  ;  Dogs !'  and  with  a 
scowl  of  angry  disappointment  he  suddenly  left  the  cell. 
His  attendant  lingered  for  one  moment  behind,  advanced 
to  the  prisoners,  and  growling  forth  the  word  '  Giaour  !' 
spat  at  them,  spurned  them,  and  hastened  out. 

Alick  received  the  kick,  having  thrown  himself  before 
Da  Costa,  whose  cheek  burned  with  wrath,  then  became  as 
pale  as  the  lingering  stain  that  had  died  it  would  permit. 
'It  is  no  new  dispensation,'  he  said,  '  for  the  Israelite  to 
suffer  under  Egyptian  bondage.  We  are  drinking  the 
cup  that  our  fathers  drank  before  us  ;  and  the  arm  that 
delivered  them  is  not  shortened,  if  it  were  His  will  to 
deliver  us  also.  Of  that,  however,  I  see  no  prospect,  mira- 
cles apart :  Abdalla  has  evidently  been  engaged  in  some 
serious  outrage  :  and  all  that  might  otherwise  tend  to  our 
security,  is  likely  to  be  turned  against  us.  Our  disguise 
must  appear  a  means  of  aiding  in  his  evil  deeds,  that  we 
may  also  partake  in  the  spoil ;  and  they  will  torture  us  to 
divulge  what  we  are  wholly  ignorant  of,  then  put  us  to 
death  in  revenge  for  our  silence.' 

'I  don't  doubt  it,'  answered  Alick,  quietly. 
27* 


310  judah's  lion% 

'And  I  have  brought  you  to  this.,  Cohen!  I,  who 
would  have  promoted  your  welfare  before  my  own,  am 
your  murderer.' 

'  Not  so,  Da  Costa :  we  both  exposed  ourselves  to  peril 
for  another's  sake.  Do  you  remember  little  Charley's 
prophetic  words,  "  We  ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for 
the  brethren  1"  ' 

'  Prophetic,  indeed,  and  soon  accomplished/ 

'  I  know,'  said  Alick,  whose  thoughts  and  feelings 
were  now  beyond  his  control,  '  I  know  exactly  the  prin- 
ciple on  which  that  beautiful  precept  is  grounded.  Look- 
ing to  one  who  laid  down  his  life  for  his  enemies,  how  it 
shames  our  selfishness,  constraining  us  to  feel — surely, 
surely  we  can  at  least  lay  down  our  lives  for  those  who 
are  our  brethren  !'  Then,  before  his  friend  could  reply, 
he  added,  with  increased  earnestness,  '  Da  Costa,  I  felt  no 
anger  when  that  Egyptian  spat  on  me  and  spurned  me  ; 
such  an  insult  would,  not  long  since,  have  made  me  fell 
any  man  to  the  earth,  though  backed  by  a  thousand 
troops,  ere  a  hand  could  be  raised  to  defend  him  ;  but  I 
thought,  even  then  I  thought  of  Jesus,  who  suffered,  oh, 
how  much  more !  for  sinners.  His  Spirit  was  with  me, 
and  I  forgave  the  trespass,  even  as  I  hope  my  trespasses 
are  forgiven.' 

Da  Costa  thought  that  either  his  own  or  his  companion's 
mind  must  be  wandering;  he  looked  at  him  in  silent 
astonishment,  and  Alick  resumed.  '  The  Lion  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah  is  to  those  who  resist  him  a  lion  indeed, 
terrible  in  his  strength,  able  to  destroy,  and  no  man  shall 
stand  before  him  :  but  to  others  he  is  a  lamb,  a  slain 
lamb,  merciful  and  meek,  able  to  save.  I  see  the  two- 
fold character  in  him  united,  and  I  can,  yes,  I  can  be- 
lieve !' 

'  Believe  what  1'  asked  Da  Costa. 


judah's  Lion.  311 

*  I  believe  with  all  my  heart,  with  all  my  soul,  that 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Son  of  God.' 

'  This  is  sheer  madness ;  you  had  no  such  belief  a  day 
or  two  since ;  and  not  a  word  have  you  heard,  or  readj 
not  a  single  thing  has  come  in  your  way,  to  cause  this 
sudden  change.  You  will  go  near  to  make  me  a  believer 
in  the  pretended  sorcer}'  of  these  Eg\'ptians.  Say  no 
more  now,  but  compose  your  mind  ;  my  poor  boy,  you 
will  have  enough  to  try  its  strength  by  and  by.' 

'  I  never  was  so  composed  as  I  now  am  ;  and  I  fear  no 
trial,  since  I  have  committed  my  cause  to  one  who  is 
able  to  maintain  both  it  and  me.  Oh,  Da  Costa !  what  I 
now  feel  is  a  foretaste  of  heaven  itself— such  a  peace, 
such  a  calm,  such  a  joy !  Methinks  I  do  long  for  the 
stroke  that  shall  send  me ' 

'To  Gehenna!'  exclaimed  Da  Costa,  vehemently. 
'  Wretched  boy,  do  you  dare  to  apostatize  1  do  you  fling 
from  you  the  priceless  privileges  of  the  holy  seed  1 
Recreant,  do  you  cease  to  be  a  Jew  V 

'  No,  G  od  forbid  !  I  do  but  add  to  the  law  that  Moses 
gave,  the  faith  that  Moses  held.  Cease  to  be  a  Jew  ! 
when  on  my  soul  first  beams  the  joy  of  acknowledging 
the  Messiah  of  Israel,  who  shall  come  to  reign  even  as  al- 
ready he  has  come  to  suffer.  No,  I  believe  that  no  soul  can 
perish  while  trusting  in  Him,  who  has  said,  "  Look  unto 
me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  but  Israel 
is  His  first-born  ;  and  in  Israel  above  all  others  will  He  be 
glorified.      I  would  not  cut  myself  off  from  Israel.' 

'  Nevertheless,  sir,  you  do,  if  there  be  any  meaning  in 
what  you  now  rave.  The  mere  act  of  which  you  are  now 
guilty,  the  going  after  other  gods,  whom  your  fathers  have 
not  known,  cuts  you  off;  and  were  we  not  dispersed,  de- 
solate, and  unable  to  fulfil  the  requirements  of  our  most 
holy  law,  you  would  be  put  to  death  as  a  warning  to  oth- 
ers.' 


312  judah's  lion. 

'  Why  should  you  speak  so  harshly  to  me,  Da  Costa, 
seeing  that  we  are  both  about  to  appear  before  the  right- 
eous judge  of  men  1  A  few  hours,  a  few  minutes  may  be 
the  limit  of  our  mortal  lives ;  before  the  sun  goes  down, 
we  may  be,  and  probably  we  shall  be,  in  the  eternal  world. 
Realize,  if  you  can,  the  awful  transition  from  all  outward, 
and  now  visible  things,  into  the  dazzling  presence  of  the 
Most  High,  to  whom  are  known  all  our  deeds,  our  words, 
our  thoughts,  from  the  dawn  of  reason  to  this  hour ;  re- 
member you  are  a  sinner,  and  remember  too  that  under 
our  holy  law,  no  sin,  however  trivial  in  man's  sight,  is  ab- 
solved without  the  offering  of  some  sacrificial  atonement; 
and  what  have  you  to  offer  1  What  have  you  to  plead  1 
For  myself,  I  have  this  to  say — I  know  that,  from  the 
beginning,  God  commanded  sacrifices,  connecting  with 
them  the  belief  in  an  atonement,  which  it  was  not  in  their 
nature  to  afford  ;  that  having  chosen  Israel  to  himself,  he 
gave  them  a  more  particular  law,  and  set  apart  one  espe- 
cial place  where  alone  those  sacrifices  should  be  offered 
up  ;  that  at  a  time  clearly  foretold,  he  sent  One  into  the 
world,  who,  being  both  God  and  man,  was  perfectly  with- 
out sin,  and  who  was  offered  up,  in  a  bloody  and  cruel 
death,  at  the  very  place  so  set  apart  for  acceptable  sacri- 
fice, and  which  almost  immediately  afterwards  became, 
and  to  this  day  continues,  inaccessible  to  any  of  the  race. 
In  him  also  I  see  every  prophesy  fulfilled :  and  I  now 
know  by  blessed  experience,  He  hears  and  answers  pray- 
er, enlightens  the  dark  eye,  and  satisfies  the  hungry  soul. 
He  has  invited  me  :  I  have  come  to  him,  and  by  the  issue 
of  this  plea  I  will  abide.' 

'  I  will  talk  no  more  to  you,'  said  Da  Costa,  turning  lo 
the  wall,  against  which  he  lay  with  his  forehead  pressed, 
writhing  with  bodily  and  mental  anguish,  while  Alick,  in 
tender  pity,  secretly  prayed  for  him. 

A  scanty  supply  of  the  same  coarse  sustenance  was 


JUDAIl's  LION.  313 

handed  Into  the  cell  at  sunset,  and  from  this  it  appeared, 
that  their  doom  was  postponed  at  least  till  the  morrow. 
Alick  mentioned  this  to  Da  Costa,  and  pressed  him  to 
take  some  of  the  food ;  but  with  a  look  in  which  pride 
and  rebuke  strove  with  the  langor  of  exhaustion,  he  re- 
plied. '  I  cannot  eat  with  you.' 

'Neither  need  you,'  answered  Alick,  mildly.     '  I  have 
not  touched  this,  only  the  vessel  that  contains  it :  I   will 
not  partake,  for  indeed  I  do  not  need  it :  but  you  are  faint 
and  feverish,  and  I,  alas !  have  aggravated  your  sufferings 
unwillingly  yet  unavoidably.'  The  mournful  tone  in  which 
he  spoke,  induced  Da  Costa  to  turn  and  look  at  him,  and 
he  could  not  but  be  touched  by  the  spectacle.     His  bruis- 
ed cheek  and  swollen  lip,  the  stain  that  he  had  himself  ap- 
plied, and  the  garments  in  which  he  had  clad  him  to  his 
destruction,  added  to  the  sunken  appearance  of  his  eye, 
the  total  change  that  had  come  over  his  young  life,  now 
probably  about  to  experience  a  violent  close,  smote  him 
with  agonizing  self-reproach.     At  the  same  time  there  was 
a  holy  calmness,  an  elevation  of  soul  depicted   on  the 
youth's  patient  countenance,  and  a  tenderness  of  sympa- 
thy in  the  anxious  look  he  bent  upon  him,  that  to  such  a 
nature  as  Da  Costa's  was  irresistible.     He  looked  up  to 
Alick,  beseechingly,  as  he  took  the  beverage  from  his 
hand,  and  said,  '  Dear  Cohen,  think  again  :  oh,  forsake  not 
the  faith  of  your  fathers,  nor  separate  from  your  scorned, 
oppressed,  persecuted,  brethren,  still  the  chosen  people  of 
the  Most  High  !' 

'Da  Costa,  I  never  loved  them  as  now  I  do:  my  heart 
cleaves  to  them  ;  and  to  its  last  throb,  my  prayer  will  arise 
for  the  v/elfare  of  Israel,  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem,  dear, 
dear  Jerusalem,  on  which  we  have  so  lately  looked,  never 
to  behold  her  again  !'  Tears  filled  his  eyes,  and  Da  Costa, 
no  less  moved,  was  silent.  At  length  he  said,  '  Will  you 
listen  quietly  to  me,  Alick  V 


314  jtjdah's   lion, 

•  I  will  indeed.' 

Da  Costa  then  sought  by  every  argument  he  could  call 
up  to  shake  his  faith,  and  to  induce  him  to  recall  its  avowal ; 
but  Alick  derived  new  strength  from  the  weakness  of  his 
objections,  and  remained  unmoved.  Night  closed,  and 
found  them  still  discussing  the  momentous  point ;  morning 
returned,  and  Da  Costa  was  restless,  yet  taciturn,  and 
seemingly  revolving  in  his  mind  some  things  that  greatly 
discomposed  him.  Alick,  on  the  contrary,  was  radiant 
with  hope  and  joy,  strengthened  by  prayer,  and  marvelling 
how  he  could  so  long  himself  have  resisted  the  truths  that 
he  had  been  enabled  to  set  forth  to  his  friend.  It  was  not 
until  near  noon,  that  the  door  of  their  prison  was  opened, 
and  the  usual  tasteless  mess  handed  in,  of  which  Da  Costa 
insisted  that  Alick  should  freely  partake,  saying,  'Prepar- 
ed as  it  has  been  by  the  unclean  and  abominable,  I  see  not 
how  it  can  contract  farther  defilement.  If  there  be  sin  in 
it,  let  it  be  counted  as  one  of  those  unhappily  unavoidable 
things  for  which,  by  the  inscrutable  decree  of  God,  no 
means  of  purification  are  left  to  our  race.' 

'  Whatever  sin  I  commit,'  said  Alick,  '  and  truly  I  sin 
every  hour,  let  it  be  washed  away  in  the  blood  shed  to 
redeem  my  soul !  I  plead  the  atoning  sacrifice,  ever  pre- 
sent, ever  available  to  faith  ;  ever  well  pleasing  to  God.' 

Shortly  after  this,  the  same  officer  who  had  visited  them 
the  preceding  day  entered ;  and  ordered  Alick  to  follow 
him.  'God  be  with  you!'  exclaimed  the  youth,  as  he 
grasped  Da  Costa's  hand,  but  no  more  could  he  add,  being 
violently  pulled  away  by  two  soldiers.  They  had  scarce- 
ly entered  the  long  passage  when  a  messenger  met  them, 
acquainting  the  officer  that  the  governor  had  entered  on  an 
investigation  likely  to  last  for  an  hour;  but  he  replied, 
'  Lead  on  :  this  young  dog  of  a  robber  shall  not  return  to 
concert  a  story  with  the  other.  They  did  not  expect  to 
be  examined  separately.' 


JT7DAII  S    LION.  315 

Accordingly  they  proceeded,  and  Alick  found  that  after 
passing  through  various  covered  passages,  they  were  as* 
cending  to  the  roof  of  what  seenned  a  spacious  house. 
Stiffened  by  bruises  and  cramped  by  the  confinement  he 
had  undergone,  he  found  it  difficult  to  mount  the  steep 
stairs  of  rugged  stone :  but  once  on  the  top,  he  saw,  be- 
neath an  awning,  an  elderly  man,  splendidly  habited, 
smoking  his  pipe,  and  hearing  the  particulars  of  a  dispute 
between  two  ecclesiastics,  which  had  led  to  an  affray, 
Alick  was  surprised  at  the  number  of  individuals  who 
found  space  to  stand  there  in  groups ;  and  not  a  little 
dazzled  and  overcome  by  the  blaze  of  day.  He  was  or- 
dered to  stand  aside,  and  roughly  pushed  by  his  guard  to  a 
corner  of  the  parapet,  whence  he  looked  down,  looked 
round,  and  then,  clasping  his  hands  over  his  eyes  murmur- 
ed, '  This  is  Egyptian  sorcery  !' 

But  again  he  gazed,  and  rich,  full,  overpowering  was 
the  flood  of  delight  that  seemed  to  roll  in  upon  his  very 
soul :  he  was  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  his  fathers,  the 
city  of  his  God.  There,  stretched  along  her  broad  eastern 
wall,  and  beyond  it  rose  the  Mount  of  Olives,  with  its 
gently  undulating  outline,  three-capped,  and  sweeping 
down  to  the  deep  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  sunk  far  beneath 
his  ken.  Northward  of  where  he  stood,  was  the  ancient 
Salem,  the  city  of  the  Jebusites,  and  towards  the  west  the 
well-remembered  tower  of  Hippicus,  David's  Castle,  while 
David's  city,  crowning  the  lofty  hill  of  Zion,  clustered  on 
the  south,  and  spread  down  the  slope  to  the  Tyropoeon  val- 
ley, where  he  knew  the  Jewish  quarter  lay.  But  at  this 
point  an  object  saluted  his  eyes  that  made  his  very  heart 
thrill  with  the  strongest  emotions  it  was  capable  of.  The 
abomination  of  desolation  stood  there  in  the  holy  place ; 
the  superb  mosque  of  Omar,  glittering  with  its  profuse 
decorations,  occupied  the  site  of  Solomon's  temple,  appro- 
priating to  itself  the  wide  enclosure  of  Mount  Moriab, 


316  judah's  lion. 

which,  with  the  Turkish  burial-ground,  reached  to  the 
very  foot  of  the  dwelling  on  the  top  of  which  Alick  was 
placed.     With  mingled  delight,  reverence,  indignation  and 
horror,  he  looked  upon  the  spot,  never  before  so  cora- 
pletel}^  brought  before  him  :  the  desecration  of  that  hallow- 
ed ground,  the  proud  crescent  gleaming  on  the  dome  of 
that  magnificent  but  polluting  edifice,  filled  him  with  an- 
guish, but  still  it  was  the  ground  so  unutterably  precious 
to  the  soul  of  a  Hebrew.     There  had  his  father  Abraham 
bound  the  unresisting  son  of  his  love,  and  prepared  to  of- 
fer up  a  sacrifice  vividly  typical  of  that  which   was  to  be 
offered  up  for  him.     There,  at  the  threshing-floor  of  Arau- 
nah  the  Jebusite,  had  David's  intercessory  prayer  been 
mercifully  accepted,  and  the  angel  had  sheathed  his  sword, 
and  Jerusalem  was  spared.  There,  by  divine  appointment, 
Solomon  erected  the  glorious  temple  of  which  the  earth 
has  never  had  a  rival ;  and  ihe  thoughts  of  Alick  wander- 
ed over  the  tale   of  Jerusalem's  triumphs,  her  sins  and 
woes,  until  all  else  was  but  as  a  dream  to  him.     Finally, 
he  cast  his  eye  on  the  mj'sterious  gateway  leading  direct- 
ly towards  the  mount,  which  has  for  so  many  generations 
been  closed,  built  up  with  stones;  according  to  Ezekiel's 
prophecy,  "  shut" — for  there  the  God  of  Israel  had  enter- 
ed, when  descending  the  Mount  of  Olives  He  came  into 
the  temple,  "  meek  and  lowly,  and  having  salvation,  rid- 
ing upon  an  ass,"  but  heralded  by  triumphant  shouts,  with 
branches  of  the  palm  and   garments  strewn  in  His  path, 
and  welcomed  by  the  hosannas  of  his  chosen  ones.    Alick 
well   remembered  hearing  Captain  Ryan   speak   of  that 
closed  gate  in  connection  both  with  the  past  and  the  future; 
and  his  heart  swelled  with  transporting  joy  as  he  hailed  in 
silent  songs  of  praise,  the  King  of  Zion  as  his  King,  his 
Savior,  his  own  present  hope,   and  the  future  glory   of 
His  people  Israel.     Where  was  the  sadness  that  but  a  few 
days  since  had  weighed   down  his  soul  when  looking  on 


jitdah's  lion.  317 

Zionl  It  was  gone;  and  by  Aiith  in  the  Son  of  God  he 
was  enabled  to  see,  as  if  already  present,  the  peace,  the 
prosperity  of  that  beloved  city.  Promise  after  promise 
broke  upon  him,  till,  unconscious  of  all  but  the  theme 
that  engrossed  him,  the  poor  prisoner's  face  was  mantled 
with  smiles,  and  shone  with  the  radiance  of  unclouded 
joy.  Of  the  lapse  of  time  he  was  as  little  conscious  as  of 
the  presence  of  his  captors,  his  guards,  his  judge,  and  pro- 
bable executioners.  His  Jerusalem  was  before  him,  in  all 
the  brightness  of  that  latter-day  glory  which  he  knew  to 
be  near  at  hand  ;  and  in  the  contemplation  of  his  redeem- 
ing, returning  Messiah,  it  seemed  a  small  matter  to  him 
whether  he  was  immediately  called  into  His  presence  by 
sudden  death,  or  left  to  declare  among  his  friends  and  kin- 
dred what  great  things  Jesus  had  done  for  him,  and  to  oc- 
cupy till  he  should  again  come.  But  though  regardless  of 
all  others,  he  was  not  himself  disregarded  :  a  superior  offic- 
er, in  the  Egyptian  uniform,  but  by  no  means  of  Egypt- 
ian cast  of  countenance,  was  attentively  watching  him  : 
and  when  Alick's  turn  came  to  be  led  forward,  and  accus- 
ed before  the  Aga,  he  too  approached,  an  interested  ob- 
server of  all  that  was  going  on. 


28 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


The  charge  brought  against  Alick  was  soon  spoken :  Ab- 
dalla's  guilt  being  a  notorious  thing,  it  was  only  neces- 
sary to  state  that  the  Pasha's  soldiers  had  unexpectedly 
fallen  in  with  him  and  his  gang,  all  of  whom  escaped, 
with  the  exception  of  two,  who  were  captured,  and 
brought  into  Jerusalem.  One,  it  was  mentioned,  had 
been  wounded,  and  him  they  had  not  brought  up  for  exa- 
mination ;  but  the  other  now  produced,  though  he  made  a 
desperate  resistance,  was  captured  unhurt.  To  this  the 
oflScer  added,  that  to  avoid  being  questioned,  the  prisoners 
had  denied  all  knowledge  of  Abdalla,  pretending  to  be 
travellers  under  his  guidance. 

Without  raising  his  eyes  to  the  prisoner,  the  governor 
asked  whether  he  was  known  to  have  been  a  party  to 
the  robbery :  to  which  the  officer  replied,  there  was  no 
doubt  of  it. 

Alick  had  some  difficulty  in  making  out  the  exact  mean- 
ing of  what  was  said  ;  and  in  a  matter  of  life  and  death, 
he  thought  it  but  fair  to  ask  for  an  interpreter ;  a  request 
that  excited  the  utmost  indignation  on  the  part  of  his  ac- 
cusers ;  the  judge  did  not  seem  to  hear  it,  but  at  this  mo- 
ment a  stranger  who  had  so  attentively  eyed  him,  stepped 
forward  ;  and  with  a  respectful  obeisance  repeated  it  to 
him.  '  What  needs  the  Bedouin  1  Do  we  not  speak  with 
the  tongue  of  his  people  V 


JUDAH'S  LION.  319 

'  I  am  no  Bedouin,'  said  Alick,  '  I  am  a  Jew  :  and  I  be- 
lieve,' he  added,  while  a  deep  color  mounted  to  his  brow, 
as  he  glanced  toward  the  Mount  of  Olives,  '  I  believe  in 
Jesus  of  Nazareth.' 

To  describe  the  effect  of  these  words  on  his  auditors  is 
impossible.  Epithets  of  astonishment,  scorn,  detestation, 
were  uttered  on  all  sides,  as  loud  as  their  respect  for  the 
chief  man  would  permit.  He,  too,  exclaimed,  'By  Al- 
lah he  speaks  lies !'  and  for  the  first  time  looked  him  in 
the  face,  then  muttered,  '  A  boy  !'  and  seemed  more  ruf- 
fled than  was  his  wont  on  occasions  of  greater  moment. 
Alick  had  never  in  his  life  felt  so  happy  as  when  the 
avowal  at  once  of  his  race  and  his  faith  had  passed  his  lips : 
he  paused  for  a  moment,  and  in  the  same  clear,  calm  tone, 
added,  '  J  am  also'an  Englishman.' 

A  laugh  of  exultation  burst  from  his  captors  and  the 
bystanders,  who  supposed  his  conviction  now  inevitable  : 
and  the  Aga  himself  smiled,  when  two  or  three  of  his 
attendants,  pointing  to  the  tall  Egyptian  officer  already 
noticed,  said,  '  Speak  in  English  to  him !'  and  with  no 
small  alacrity  Alick  turned  to  him,  saying,  '  If,  sir,  you 
speak  the  language  of  my  native  land,  I  crave  your  good 
offices  in  repeating  to  me  the  substance  of  the  evidence 
brought  against  me.  I  am  guiltless  in  this  matter,  as  I 
hope,  with  your  kind  assistance,  now  to  prove.' 

'You  have  injured  your  cause,'  rejoined  the  other,  hur- 
riedly, '  by  the  indiscreet  admission  of  being — what  you 
say  you  are  :  and  what  indeed  you  cannot  be  j  for  the  two 
are  incompatible.'  He  turned  abruptly  from  him,  and  com- 
municated in  a  very  low  voice  with  the  governor,  at  some 
length.  The  latter  seemed  wavering,  and  his  attendants  evi- 
dently excited  in  no  small  measure.  One,  whose  office  it 
was  to  inflict  the  punishment  of  the  bastinado,  had  prepared 
a  long  leather  strap,  which  he  drew  impatiently  through  his 
fingers,  while  others,  by  catching  Alick's  eye,  and  direct- 


320  JUDAIl's    LION. 

ing  his  attention  towards  it,  with  looks  and  gestures  of  ex- 
treme satisfaction,  indicated  that  he  was  about  to  suffer 
that  torture.  He  flinched  a  little  ;  but  the  thought  imme- 
diately arose,  '  He  who  here  suffered  far  more  grievous 
pain  and  indignity  for  me,  will  surely  strengthen  me  to 
endure  whatever  He  sees  good  I  should  encounter.  I 
have  confessed  his  Name;  and  that  confession  it  is  that 
has  incensed  these  poor  followers  of  an  impostor  against 
me.  Oh  that  they  knew  what  I  know  !  Oh  that  my 
own  people  Israel  knew  it !  It  was  there,  on  that  blessed 
mountain  He  stood,  when  weeping  over  Jerusalem  ;  it 
was  here  his  pitying  eye  rested,  when  he  lamented  their 
perverse  rejection  of  his  sheltering  love,  and  foreshowed 
the  desolations  that  I  witness.  May  he  take  me,  a  poor, 
sinful,  worthless  creature,  under  the  wings  that  he  longed 
to  spread  over  my  fathers  !'  Tears  filled  his  eyes,  as  with 
that  love  of  which  the  world  knows  nothing,  he  looked 
around  him,  and  above ;  the  unprovoked  enemies  who 
were  themselves  but  the  tools  in  the  hands  of  Satan  to 
harrass  this  solitary  young  believer,  exulted  in  the  suppo- 
sition that  fear  for  what  they  were  about  to  inflict  on  him 
was  the  source  of  those  gathering  tears  ;  and  impatiently 
they  awaited  the  result  of  their  chief's  lengthened  confer- 
ence with  the  volunteer  interpreter. 

He  was  an  Englishman  ;  an  adventurer  who  had  enter- 
ed  the  service  of  Mahommed  Ali,  and  for  the  promotion 
of  his  worldly  advantage  had  exchanged  his  nominal . 
Christianity  for  equally  nominal  Islamisra.  His  rank  in 
the  infidel  army  was  not  high,  nor  did  he  seek  an  eleva- 
tion that  would  have  surrounded  him  with  envious  rivals; 
but  the  actual  influence  obtained  by  a  judicious  applica- 
tion of  much  worldly,  scientific,  professional  and  political 
knowledge,  stood  him  in  more  stead  than  comparative 
rank  would  have  done.  So  far  was  he  from  seeking  noto- 
riety, that  few  were  aware  of  his  history.     He  was  a  fa- 


judah's  lion.  321 

vorite  with  those  in  power  ;  who  by  craving  nothing  for 
himself,  and  being  ready  to  do  a  good-naturtd  thing  for 
others,  escaped  much  jealousy,  and  enjoyed  a  fair  measure 
of  popular  good-will.  He  had  taken  a  liking  to  Alick 
Cohen,  before  he  knew  more  of  him  than  that  he  was  a 
prisoner,  accused  by  one  of  the  darkest,  most  malignant 
of  the  officials  ;  and  the  discovery  of  his  English  birth, 
following  as  it  did  on  an  avowal  so  exceedingly  honest  and 
fearless,  respecting  his  race  and  his  religion,  altogether 
completely  engaged  Ali  Mustapha's  interest  on  his  behalf. 

The  conversation  ended  by  an  order  being  given  to  con- 
duct the  prisoner  wheresoever  this  renegade  might  direct ; 
he  making  himself  accountable  for  his  safe  custody  till  the 
charge  should  be  settled,  established  or  disproved. 

Alick  was,  therefore,  again  hurried  away,  and  to  his 
dismay  found  that  he  was  not  returning  to  his  former 
prison  ;  earnestly  he  implored  to  be  allowed,  if  but  for  a 
moment's  time,  to  revisit  his  wounded  friend :  it  was  use- 
less :  and  when  he  found  himself  lodged  in  a  compara- 
tively comfortable  room,  with  a  stool,  a  table,  and  a  rude 
camp-bed,  he  looked  with  dissatisfaction  on  the  contrast, 
and  earnestly  desired  he  could  transport  every  indulgence 
to  the  narrow,  dull,  damp  prison  of  Da  Costa.  When 
the  person,  whom  he  coild  not  but  regard  as  his  deliverer, 
visited  him,  he  followed  up  his  expressions  of  gratitude  by 
an  earnest  intercession  for  his  friend.  '  He  too  is  English,' 
he  said,  '  and  equally  innocent  with  myself  in  this  matter. 
He  is  wounded,  suffering  greatly,  ignorant  of  where  we 
are,  and  will  be  miserable  under  the  apprehensions  that 
my  continued  absence  will  occasion  ;  I  beseech  you,  let 
me  be  with  him.' 

'  Is  he  older  than  yourself?' 

'  Yes — a  dozen  years  I  should  say,  at  least.' 

'  Then  he  probably  misled  you.     How  came  you  under 
the  guardianship  of  that  worthy  Abdalla  V 
28* 


322  JUDAfl's    LIOK. 

Alick  told  him,  suppressing  all  particulars  concerning 
the  precise  object  of  their  journey  ;  and  Mustapha  remark' 
ed,  'He  must  certainly  have  known  the  character  of  the 
Bedouin,  and  now  he  must  take  the  consequences  of 
what  he  has  brought  upon  himself  and  you,  by  this  sense- 
less disguise.  But  what  induced  you  to  make  such  a 
singular  statement  of  your  religion  1  Did  you  imagine 
that  in  Jerusalem  the  name  of  Jew  would  have  helped 
your  case  1     The  very  last  to  do  so.' 

'  But  1  am  a  Jew  ',  no  drop  of  Gentile  blood  is  inter- 
mingled with  that  of  my  race  ;  and  would  you  have  me 
deny  or  conceal  that  fact  I' 

'  Well:  grant  that  you  felt  bound  to  declare  it,  surely 
the  other  and  contradictory  assertion  of  being  also  a  Chris- 
tian, was,  at  least,  ill-judged.' 

'  Do  you  then  doubt  the  reality  of  my  belief  in  the  Mes- 
siah of  Israel,  who  here  suffered  for  our  sins,  and  shall 
here  return  in  great  glory  for  our  deliverance  and  ultimate 
triumph  1  Are  you  not  yourself,  as  a  Christian,  rejoicing 
in  that  hope,  and  will  you  not  receive,  as  a  returning 
brother,  a  penitent,  believing  son  of  Abraham  V 

He  held  out  his  hand  to  the  renegade,  who,  taking  it, 
good-humoredly,  though  with  some  embarrassment,  said, 
'  Jew  or  Christian,  Mussulman  or  Brahmin,  each  man  is, 
or  calls  himself,  what  best  suits  his  own  mind,  whether 
from  habit,  or  from  finding  that  he  may  advantageoiisly 
depart  from  his  accustomed  path.  I  hold  no  man  in 
greater  or  less  respect  for  what  he  calls  himself.  If  j'ou 
are  returning  (supposing  we  get  you  out  of  this  awkward 
position)  to  England,  no  doubt  your  prospects  will  be 
much  advanced  by  embracing  the  ascendant  form  ;  but 
have  you  any  particular  tie  there  %  A  fine  field  of  enter- 
prise lies  open  here  in  the  East — -opportunities  worth 
grasping  at ;  fame,  distinction,  emolument,  in  prospect 
and  possession  a  vast  deal  more  than  the  cold,  dull  routine 


judah's   lion.  323 

of  English  life  holds  out.  I  have  had  the  luck  so  far  to 
be  useful  to  you,  for  I  verily  believe  they  wculdhave  put 
you  to  death,  or  inflicted  some  horrible  punishment  upon 
you,  without  giving  you  time  or  opportunity  to  apprize 
any  person  of  your  doom ;  and  now  1  can  guarantee  your 
safety,  I  think,  if  your  inclination  turns  to  the  path  I  have 
pointed  out,  otherwise  it  is  doubtful.' 

'  Do  you  mean  the  Egyptian  service  ]'  asked  Alick,  in 
surprise.  • 

'  Yes :  as  an  officer,  with  every  prospect  of  rapid 
advancement.' 

'  A  Jewish  officer  in  command  of  Egyptian  Mussulmans ! 
Surely  that  would  be  a  strange  anomaly,'  said  Alick, 
smiling  at  the  wildness  of  the  proposal.' 

'  You  are  no  longer  a  Jew ;  you  have  renounced  that 
form  for  the  religion  of  England  ;  and  by  an  easier  transi- 
tion, cancelling  that,  you  might  assimilate  yourself  to  the 
predominant  faith  of  the  East.' 

AHck  answered  not;  he  was  utterly  confounded  by 
what  wore  so  much  the  aspect  of  a  jest  or  an  insult,  that 
he  knew  not  how  to  regard  it.  He  fixed  a  look  on  his 
companion,  the  intenseness  of  which  made  him  shrink  a 
little,  but  he  preserved  his  composure,  and  proceeded : 
*  To  turn  Christian,  sounds  very  proper  in  European  ears ; 
to  turn  Turk  far  otherwise  ;  but  with  us  the  reverse  pre- 
vails ;  you  must  divest  yourself  of  all  early  prejudices — 
as  indeed  you  have  done  in  one  instance,  and  by  the  same 
process  you  may  overcome  a  different  set  of  prejudices.  1 
had  some  trouble  in  it,  therefore  I  do  not  expect  you  to 
enter  all  at  once  into  my  views  for  your  advantage.' 

'Have  you,  sir,  renounced  Christianity  for  Islamism  ?' 
asked  Alick,  still  regarding  him  with  the  same  fixed  look. 

'  I  have,  sir,'  answered  the  other,  eyeing  him  sternly, 

'And  do  you  really  believe  in  Mahomet  as  the  inspired 
prophet  of  God  1' 


324  judah's  lion. 

'  Believe  !  what  I  believe  is  no  man's  business  :  I  pro* 
fess  myself  his  obedient  servant,  as  I  should  profess  mys_-lf 
your's,  sir,  if  I  was  addressing  you  by  letter ;  but  what 
measure  of  obedient  service  I  might  choose  to  render  to 
him  or  to  you  remains  at  my  own  option.  The  language 
is  everything  you  or  he  can  require.  But  come,  time  is 
short,  and  yours  may  be  particularly  so,  if  I  don't  take 
better  care  of  your  interests  than  you  seem  disposed.  I 
shall  leave  you  now  to  consider,  first  giving  you  a  short 
summary  of  the  good  things  into  present  possession  of 
which,  as  a  devout  young  Mussulman,  you  may  forthwith 
enter,  and  take  a  full  swing,  in  the  gay  sunshine  of  youth. 
First'— 

'  Don't  begin  numbering  your  thirty  pieces  of  silver,' 
interrupted  Alick,  whose  disgust  and  indignation  could  no 
longer  be  restrained.  '  There  was  one  Jew  found  suiE- 
ciently  infamous  to  sell  his  Lord  ;  there  may  have  been 
others — I  hope  not — but  if  the  whole  world  conspired  to 
sell  Him,  I  will  be  no  party  to  the  sacrilegious  compact. 
What  are  all  the  joys  of  earth  to  the  joy  my  heart  has 
known  since  it  hailed  him  as  its  king  and  God  !  Tempt 
me  no  more  ;  a  thousand  deaths  would  be  preferable  to 
such  foul  apostacy.' 

'  Boy  !'  said  the  other,  '  I  will  not  chastize  you  for  this. 
Nay,  more ;  knowing  as  I  do  the  horrors  of  the  fate  that 
awaits  you,  I  will  even  pass  it  over  as  the  raving  of  a 
mind  overheated  by  excitement,  and  unnerved  by  tatigue. 
Here  1  leave  you,  to  refresh  yourself  by  proper  food  and 
rest ;  which  is  all  I  could  gain  liberty  to  do  for  you.  It 
is  well  for  you  that  I  am  not  the  fanatic  you  are,  or  feign 
to  be.'     He  turned  abruptly  and  left  him. 

His  departure  was  a  great  relief  to  Alick,  who  felt 
something  akin  to  fear  mingling  with  the  horror  that  the 
renegade's  cool  avowals  inspired  him  with  :  a  fear,  lest  by 
any  means,  he  might  be  given  over  to  entertain  the  sug- 


judah's  lion.  325 

gestlons  of  the  enemy  who  had  attacked  him  in  such  an 
unexpected  shape.  '  Apcstacy  is  a  fearful  thing  indeed,' 
thought  he  ;  and  then  the  conviction  flashed  upon  him, 
that  as  he  regarded  this  man,  even  so  must  Da  Costa  and 
his  own  people  regard  him.  The  thought  afflicted  him 
great!}'.  '  How  gently,  how  patiently  my  poor  friend 
dealt  with  me,  under  what  must  have  been  a  grievous  pro- 
vokation  in  his  sight !  but  he  could  not  suspect  me  of  the 
base,  worldly  motives  in  which  this  wretched  man  glories. 
Oh  that  I  could  express  to  Da  Costa  the  joy  and  peace 
that  my  soul  feels  in  believing  !  Yet  I  never  could  do 
so  ;  for  M'hen  others  spoke  to  me  of  it,  as  experienced  by 
themselves,  I  could  form  no  conception  of  its  reality  or 
power.  It  is  a  gift  that  no  man  can  share  with  his 
brother  ;  I  will  pray  to  Him  who  bestows  it,  that  all  who 
are  most  dear  to  me  may  partake  in  its  sweetness.'  He 
did  so ;  and  his  prayer,  embracing  first  his  own  nation, 
gradually  extended  until  he  was  earnestly  engaged  in 
pleading  for  the  renegade.  He  rose,  after  a  long  while 
thus  occupied  ;  and  never,  perhaps,  did  he  desire  anything 
so  fervently  as  then  he  desired  the  luxury  of  pen,  ink,  and 
paper,  wherewith  to  record  the  wonderful  things  wrought 
for,  and  in  his  soul ;  but  this  was  unattainable,  as  also  was 
the  next  object  of  his  wishes — a  Bible.  His  thoughts 
thus  compelled  to  remain  concentrated  on  one  point,  re- 
traced his  whole  progress,  from  early  childhood  ;  and  very 
many  were  the  transgressions  brought  to  mind,  for  every 
one  of  which  he  pleaded  the  atoning  power  of  the  one 
great  offering  for  sin  ;  while  the  links  that  formed  the 
chain  of  his  destiny,  in  arriving  at  the  present  point,  each 
drew  forth  a  renewed  ascription  of  praise.  It  was  pleasant 
thus  to  commune  with  his  own  heart,  in  his  little  prison- 
chamber,  and  to  be  so  still.  Tranquillity,  cheerfulness, 
stole  over  his  spirit;  he  seemed  to  have  no  care,  no  fear: 
all  was  peace  and  love.     Even  when  he  thought  on  the 


326  judah's  lion. 

condition  of  his  people,  outcast  from  their  country,  and 
still  under  the  frown  of  their  God,  hope  brightened  the 
scene;  for  he  doubted  not  the  speedy  fulfillment  to  them 
of  every  promise  recorded,  and  which  he  now  strove  to 
number  up,  again,  most  ardently  wishing  he  possessed  the 
Word  of  God — he  felt  that  to  study  it  would  be  a  feast 
indeed. 

Suddenly  a  thought  struck  him  :  there  was  a  grating  at 
the  upper  part  of  the  wall,  forming  a  window,  sufficiently 
large  to  make  the  apartment  very  light  and  cheerful. 
Alick  moved  his  table,  and  placing  on  it  the  stool  on 
which  he  had  sat,  he  cautiously  mounted  without  noise. 
His  hope  was  realized:  he  had  a  very  full  view  of  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  rising,  as  it  were,  close  before  him, 
though  the  Turkish  burying-ground  lay  between  him  and 
the  eastern  wall,  and  he  knew  the  deep  valley  of  the  Ked- 
ron  sank  low  beyond  it.  To  his  extreme  right  he  could 
just,  by  pressing  his  face  to  the  bars,  catch  a  glimpse  of 
a  corner  of  the  Mosque  of  Omar. 

What  visions  of  the  past  crowded  on  the  young  Jew's 
thoughtful  spirit  as  his  eye  traced  that  hallowed  boundary  ! 
He  saw,  in  imagination,  that  wonder  of  the  whole  earth, 
the  temple  of  Solomon,  occupying  the  ground,  Israel's 
wise  kino;  ensagfed  in  the  dedication  of  that  house  of 
prayer:  how  many  thousands  spread  upon  the  overhang- 
ing hill,  and  covering,  no  doubt,  the  spot  where  then  he 
rested,  while  the  cloud  at  the  Lord's  presence  descended 
to  fill  the  spacious  building,  and  overpower  the  minister- 
ing priests  with  the  majesty  of  His  revealed  glory.  Again, 
he  saw^  amid  the  shades  of  night  the  dim  wrecks  of  that 
gorgeous  temple,  seared,  and  broken,  and  desolate  ;  while 
the  bold,  fiithful,  enterprising  Nehemiah  rode  forth  alone 
to  explore  the  ruins,  and  mature  his  secret  plan  for  re- 
building the  holy  city.  His  eye  fell  on  the  closed  eastern 
gate^  the  "golden  gate"  of  scripture,  and  he  saw  a  greater 


JUDAIl's  LION.  3'27 

than  Solomon  approachins;  in  meek  majesty,  his  eye  yet 
moist  with  tears  of  divine  compassion  shed  over  the  de- 
voted city,  which  refused  to  know  the  things  belonging 
to  her  peace.  '  The  gate  is  shut,'  thought  Alick,  accord- 
ing to  Ezekiel,  because  the  God  of  Israel  hath  entered 
thereby.  It  is  shut,  and  what  an  awful  landmark  it 
forms  !  At  once  a  witness  to  the  past,  and  an  earnest  of 
the  future,  a  testimony  against  my  people,  and  a  door  of 
assured  hope  for  them  and  for  the  whole  world, — how 
eloquent  is  that  blank,  silent  wall !  The  tabernacle  of 
God  is  fallen  down,  but  He  will  rebuild  it — the  sanctuary 
is  polluted,  but  He  will  cleanse  it — the  dominion  is  taken 
away,  but  only  till  He  come,  whose  right  it  is.  Then,  as 
surely  as  the  army  of  Sennacherib  lay  round  about  this 
city,  dead  and  dishonored  corpses,  so  surely  shall  every 
enemy  of  our  heavenly  King  be  slain  before  him.  This 
spot  to  my  right  was  the  threshing-floor  of  Araunah  the 
Jebusite:  to  my  left  rose  the  ancient  city  of  Melchisedeck, 
the  Jerusalem  towards  which  the  angel  stretched  forth  his 
drawn  sword : — Oh,  when  will  the  angles  of  God  again 
throng  about  our  city,  while  the  Lord  rejoices  over  us  to 
do  us  good  for  ever  and  ever  !' 

In  such  thoughts  he  passed  the  time,  unconscious  of 
its  lapse,  until  the  noise  of  approaching  footsteps  startled 
him;  and  fearing  to  be  deprived  of  his  present  privilege, 
he  hastily  descended,  replaced  the  table,  and  seated  him- 
self as  before.  An  attendant  entered  ;  a  mild-looking  old 
man,  habited  in  a  loose  Turkish  dress,  quite  refreshing 
to  Alick's  sight,  after  the  perpetual  flash  of  weapons  to 
which  he  had  lately  been  accu-tomed,  and  placed  in  his 
hand  a  billet,  on  which  was  written — '  You  must  need 
refreshment ;  follow  the  bearer,  who  will  conduct  you  to 
a  bath,  and  supply  a  change  of  clothing,  after  which  I 
wish  to  see  you  again.'  The  latter  part  of  the  communi- 
cation was  less  welcome  than  the  former;  but  Alick  rose, 


328  judah's  lion. 

and  followed  the  old  man,  who  led  him  in  silence  to  a 
small,  but  commodious  bath,  and  pointing  to  some  ap- 
parel, heaped  on  a  couch,  left  him.  The  ablution  was 
delightful,  and  not  the  less  so  from  the  effect  it  produced 
in  removing  the  stain  from  his  skin.  He  gladly  threw 
aside  his  vest,  and  soiled  Bedouin  habiliments,  and  select- 
ing the  simplest  articles  from  those  before  him,  which  ap- 
proached  to  the  European  costume,  he  soon  finished  his 
toilet,  and  rapping  smartly  at  the  door  where  his  attendant 
had  disappeared,  was  answered  by  the  entrance  of  another, 
who  motioned  him  to  proceed,  following  him,  until  they 
reached  a  moderate-sized,  but  most  luxuriously  furnished 
apartment,  filled  with  fragrance,  at  the  farther  end  of 
which  reclined  Ali  iMustapha,  in  a  careless,  but  costly 
dishabille,  smoking  a  long  Turkish  pipe,  and  before  him  a 
small  table,  covered  with  delicious  fruits,  and,  evidently, 
rich  wines,  together  with  some  more  substantial  viands, 
half  veiled  by  fresh  leaves  thrown  lightly  over  it. 

Uncertain  how  he  would  be  received,  Alick  advanced, 
gravely,  and  with  a  feeling  of  cautious  reserve.  He 
paused  before  reaching  the  table,  and  Mustapha  said, 
'  Come,  Mr.  Prisoner,  sit  down,  and  refresh  yourself  be- 
fore we  proceed  to  our  other  business.' 

He  spoke  in  a  playful  tone,  and  Alick,  with  marked 
seriousness,  answered,  'I  am  indeed  a  prisoner,  sir;  and 
a  prisoner's  fare  is  more  suitable  to  me  than  what  is  now 
spread  before  me.' 

'  Pho  !  you  are  too  young  to  philosophize  in  that  fashion 
— much  younger,  indeed,  than  I  imagined.  You  have 
suffered  great  privations  too,  and  a  little  solacing  will 
not  be  amiss.' 

'  My  privations  have  been  more  than  shared  by  the  dear 
comrade,  who,  under  the  additional  infliction  of  a  severe 
wound,  still  lies,  helpless,  friendless,  perhaps  even  now 
dying  in  a  dungeon.     Extend   to  him   the  kindness  you 


JUlDAH's    LION.  329 

have  shown  to  me,  and  I  shall  be  better  solaced  than  by 
all  the  good  cheer  your  hospitality  has  provided.' 

'  You  talk  as  if  I  was  the  Governor  of  Jerusalem,  or 
Ibrahim  I'asha  himself.  1  have  no  power  to  do  more 
than  treat  you  with  a  little  humanity,  while  you  remain 
under  my  care.  So  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry.  For  this 
one  evening  we  will  forget  all  but  good  fellowship.' 

Alick  .-aw  the  snare  spread  for  him  ;  at  least,  he  saw 
reason  to  guard  vigilantly  against  falling  into  a  snare  j 
while  the  thought  that  the  house  in  which  he  was,  bor- 
dered on,  if  it  did  not  actually  form  part  of  the  site  of 
the  temple  where  his  fathers  had  worshipped  the  Lord  in 
the  beauty  of  holiness,  and  to  which  nothing  unclean 
might  approach,  roused  within  him  a  feeling  that  added 
energy  and  dignity  to  his  reply.  '  You  have  shown  me 
much  kindness,  sir,  and  proved,  both  by  words  and  deeds, 
that  you  believe  me  guiltless  of  what  I  am  charged  with. 
My  friend  is  equally  innocent ;  and  he  too,  is  a  son  of 
Abraham,  an  heir,  though,  alas !  as  et  excluded  from  his 
inheritance,  of  all  that  God  gave  unto  our  fathers,  in  this 
good  land,  and  this  holy  city.  As  our  fathers  were,  we, 
too,  are  just  now  in  bondage  to  the  Egyptian;  and  but 
for  your  English  feeling,  excited  on  my  behalf,  we  should 
both  fare  ill  as  they  did.  On  whatever  plea  you  inter- 
posed for  me,  that  plea  is  equally  applicable  to  him  :  I 
will  thankfully  share  in  any  favor  shown  to  Da  Costa  j 
but  beyond  the  welcome  refreshment  of  your  bath,  your 
change  of  raiment,  or  the  liberty  of  thus  interceding  for 
him,  I  can  accept  nothing.' 

'  Well,  sit  down,  for  I  am  still  too  much  the  Eng- 
lishman to  loll  here  while  my  guest  stands.' 

Alick  immediately  seated  himself. 

'And  now  take  a  glass  of  wine  with  me.' 

*  Pardon  me,  I  cannot— and  I  will  not,'  he  added  with 
29 


830  judah's  lion/ 

determined  resolution,   as   the   other  filled   a  glass,  and 
pushed  it  towards  him. 

*  Take  my  word  for  it,  Mr. ;  I  have  not  the  plea- 
sure of  kiiowing  your  name — what  am  I  to  call  youl' 

*  My  name  is  Nathan  Alexander  Cohen.' 

*  Well,  Mr.  Cohen,  take  my  word  fur  it,  you  will  need 
some  bodily  nerve  to  carry  you  through  what  may  happen 
to-morrow,  and  which  you  don't  seem  disposed   to  avert.' 

'  Whatever  strength  is  needed,  that  I  shall  obtain,'  said 
Alick. 

*  Whence  is  it  to  come  1' 

'  From  the  Father  of  Mercies,  the  God  of  Israel,  in 
answer  to  prayer,  which  will  be  heard  and  granted  for  the 
sake  of  His  dear  Son.' 

'Have  you  been  baptized  V 

*  No  !' 

*  That's  a  pity ;  for,  standing  as  you  do  between  two 
religions,  you  may  chance  to  fall  and  get  no  help  from 
either' 

This  was  said  jeeringly,  in  evident  ill  humor,  and 
Alick  made  no  reply,  but  lifted  his  heart  in  prayer. 

After  some  moments  of  gloomy  silence,  the  ofhcer  said, 
*  To  be  short  and  plain  with  you,  Mr.  Cohen  ;  I  obtained 
the  present  indulgence  under  a  wrong  impression,  and 
thought  you  a  fine,  undaunted  young  fellow,  who  would 
prefer  a  career  of  honorable  enterprise  to  the  bastinado 
and  the  bowstring,  and  on  th^t  supposition  I  got  leave  to 
parley  with  you.  If  you  continue  in  this  mood,  I  can  do 
no  more ;  we  must  to-morrow  resume  our  former  position 
— you  a  captured  Arab  robber  ;  I  an  officer  of  the  Pacha's 
army,  wholly  unconnected  with  your  affairs  !' 

*  But  you  know  nie  to  be  an  English  subject,  no  Arab, 
and  no  robber.  You  will  surely  aid  me  to  appeal  to  the 
British  consul,  or  communicate  with  my  friends.' 

*  I  am  prohibited  from  so  doing.     It  was  on  this  condi- 


judah's  lion.  331 

tion  that  I  obtained  for  you  a  respite  from  the  fate  then 
impending.  I  incurred  personal  hazard  to  serve  you  so 
far  :  beyond  it  I  cannot  go  but  at  a  far  greater  risk.' 

'  In  that  case,  I  can  say  no  more :  I  had  better  return 
to  my  prison.' 

'  Yet  consider  well,  or  conviction  may  arrive  too  late. 
The  Aga  holds  your  life  in  his  hand— his  word  is  fate.' 

*  The  hand  that  holds  my  life,'  answered  Alick,  '  is  no 
mortal  hand.  If  it  be  His  will  to  deliver  me  to  death, 
none  can  save  ;  if  it  be  His  will  to  preserve,  none  can 
harm  me.  He  has  given  me  the  precious  assurance,  that 
none  coming  to  Him  shall  be  cast  out ;  and  since  I  have 
been  drawn,  and  have  come  to  Him,  I  know  that  to  me 
the  promise  is  sure — He  will  raise  me  up  at  the  last  day.' 

'  You  preach  so  well,  you  had  better  live  to  follow  your 
vocation  in  the  Pasha's  service.  If  not  a  soldier,  you 
would  make  a  capital  muezzim.' 

'  I  know,'  said  Alick,  '  the  tyranny,  cruelty,  and  ca- 
price of  those  whom  you  serve,  too  well,  to  desire  you 
should  incur  the  possibility  of  offending  them  to  serve  me, 
or  I  might  work  successfully  on  your  English  feelings  to 
attempt  it.  I  refrain  from  so  doing,  in  the  earnest  hope 
that  you  may  be  spared  to  repent.  Not  all  the  luxuries 
that  surround  you  here,  not  all  the  distinctions,  in  wealth, 
title,  fame,  that  you  may  acquire,  can  avail  you  in  the 
eternity  that  is  to  come.  0,  consider  this,  ere  it  be  too 
late :  look  around  you,  and  recall  what  He  suffered  to  re- 
deem the  soul  you  are  destroying,  who  passed  even  here 
a  life  of  sorrow,  and  died  a  death  of  shame.  Repent,  and 
return ;  for  the  Lord  has  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  him 
that  dieth,  but  rather  that  he  turn  from  his  evil  way  and 
live.' 

The  renegade  had  risen  fiercely,  when  the  youth  be- 
gan ;  he  now  stood,  frowning  and  muttering,  but  made  no 
reply.    A  signal  brought  back  the  attendant,  who  touched 


332  judah's  lion. 

Alick's  shoulder,  and  motioned  to  him  to  retire.  He  pro- 
ceeded a  few  steps,  then  turned  and  said,  *May  I  go  to 
my  friend  V 

'  No !'  was  the  answer ;  and  the  attendant,  startled  by 
the  angry  tone,  hurried  him  away. 

Once  more  in  his  place  of  confinement,  Alick  breathed 
freely  ;  he  had  not  done  so  in  the  perfumed  atmosphere  of 
the  sumptuous  apartment.  Before  he  had  been  locked  in 
many  minutes,  a  man  of  very  different  aspect  from  any 
he  had  seen  there  entered,  set  before  him  some  coarse 
bread  and  water,  and  pointing  to  his  Arab  dress,  which 
had  been  bi'ought  and  deposited  on  the  bed,  left  him  again 
alone.  His  miserable  meal  was  eaten  with  new  relish, 
his  dress  changed  again,  and  after  a  little  time  sptnt  in 
prostrate  prayer,  he  was  at  his  high  window,  communing 
with  the  past,  and  realizing  the  future.  Thoughts  of 
home,  of  the  Ryans,  and  even  more  painfully  of  Da  Costa 
would  interpose  ;  but  they  were  as  light  summer-clouds 
crossing  the  sunshine  of  his  spirit.  He  watched  till  night- 
fall, then  tranquilly  slept  till  day;  and  seeing  how  hope- 
less was  the  plan  of  an  appeal  to  the  English  consulate 
from  the  sentence  of  those  who  were  resolved  to  regard 
and  to  treat  him  as  a  plundering  Arab,  in  the  dress  of 
whom  he  was  evidently  required  again  to  appear,  he  re- 
solved to  leave  his  cause  in  higher  hands,  and  to  stay  his 
mind  where  it  would  be  kept  in  perfect  peace. 

Towards  noon,  his  fo  iraer  guard  appeared,  and  with 
exulting  looks  and  scoffing  words,  hurried  him  along. 
The  scene  that  he  so  yearned  to  behold  once  more  was 
not  now  the  place  of  judgment ;  instead  of  the  roof  of 
the  house  he  found  himself  in  a  wide,  but  low  and  un- 
comfortable apartment,  only  the  farther  end  being  tem- 
porarily fitted  up  for  the  Aga's  deputy,  who  was  sur- 
rounded by  officers,  and  near  him  the  executioners,  with 
their  instruments  of  varied  cruelty  and  death.     No  inter- 


judah's  lion.  338 

preter  was  there  ;  and  Alick  felt  that  his  doom  was  sealed  j 
while  the  rude  hurry  prevailing  in  every  quarter  showed 
that  scarcely  even  the  semblance  of  a  trial  awaited  hira. 
His  old  accuser  approached  the  deputy,  and  speaking  so 
fast  and  low  that  not  a  sentence  could  be  distinctly  heard 
at  the  distance  where  Alick  stood,  he  told  his  tale,  fre- 
quently pointing  to  the  prisoner,  while  others  occasionally 
assented,  corroborating  his  lying  evidence.  The  deputy 
gave  a  divided  attention,  half  engaged  in  a  whispering 
conversation  with  another  official,  who  stood  behind  him : 
and  soon  uttered  some  words  which  included  Alick's 
sentence,  for  the  soldiers  eagerly  closed  round,  and  one 
of  the  executioners,  seizing  his  arms,  commenced  binding 
them.  A  sort  of  avenue  was  formed  to  the  door  by  which 
he  had  entered,  and  along  this  he  was  roughly  dragged; 
but  a  sudden  stir  took  place  near  the  deputy's  seat ;  the 
tapestry  that  hung  round  the  recess  was  somewhat  vio- 
lently drawn  aside,  and  the  Aga  himself  appeared. 
Alick's  progress  was  arrested  by  command  ;  the  deputy 
was  speedily  displaced,  and  his  chief  installed  ;  and  when 
the  prisoner  was  led  back,  he  saw  not  only  the  Governor 
of  Jerusalem,  but  the  English  consul,  two  naval  officers 
in  the  uniform  of  the  Lion  Isle,  and  behind  them,  with 
eyes  almost  starting  out  of  their  sockets,  the  honest,  wea- 
ther-beaten face  of  his  first  friend,  the  Gunner. 


^9* 


CHAPTER    XXin< 


'  Now,  to  examine  this  Arab,'  said  the  English  consul ; 
when  Alick,  his  countenance  shaded  by  the  red  shawl 
that  the  rude  eaoferness  of  the  executioners  had  so 
shifted  as  almost  to  cover  his  face,  was  again  led  to* 
wards  the  divan. 

■  '  No  Arab  !'  exclaimed  one  of  the  English  officers, 
as  Alick  pushed  back  the  covering  with  his  fettered 
arm,  and  eagerly  gazed  on  Gordon ;  who,  clasping, 
or  rather  clapping  his  hands,  in  unspeakable  agitation 
cried  out,  'It  is  himself !  Mr.  Cohen,  my  dear  young 
Mr.  Cohen  !'  and  was  proceeding,  when  silence  was 
commanded,  and  the  Aga,  turning  to  the  consul,  bade 
him  question  the  prisoner. 

This  was  soon  done ;  and  a  little  cross-questioning 
of  the  accusers  proved  that  they  had  no  shadow  of 
evidence  to  oppose  to  Alick's  assertions.  He  was 
unbound,  and  a  formal  demand  made  for  Da  Costa,  to 
which  a  communication  was  returned,  that  seemed  to 
satisfy  the  consul.  Some  forms  were  gone  through, 
happily  expedited  by  the  same  press  of  business  that 
had  hurried  Alick's  condemnation,  and  he  was,  almost 
before  he  knew  how  the  change  took  place,  a  free 
man,  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  with  the  merry 
cheers   of    the  young    Englishmen   testifying   their 


jUDAn's  LION.  33  5 

triumph,  in  spite  of  the  consul's  adnnonitions.  Gor- 
don had  no  voice  to  cheer  with  ;  his  joy  at  Alick's 
rescue  had  been  increased  to  such  overpowering  de- 
light by  the  youth's  fervent  ejaculatory  thanlvsgiving, 
which  he  offered  in  the  name  of  the  Redeemer,  add- 
ing, '  The  very  Paschal  Lamb,  the  Lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah  !'  then  clasping  the  old  sailor's  hand,  he 
pointed  to  the  Mount,  saying,  "  There  He  will  come 
with  clouds,  and  every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they 
also  which  pierced  him  ;  bat  I  shall  not  wail  ;  for  he 
is  my  Lord  and  my  God — the  Rock  of  my  salvation, 
and  my  sure  Refuge."  Then  turning  to  the  consul 
he  repeated  his  thanks  for  this  unaccountable  inter- 
position, as  he  termed  it  j  and  anxiously  inquired 
whether  they  should  not  proceed  at  once  to  Da 
Costa's  prison. 

'No,'  replied  the  consul;  'some  little  delay  must 
take  place  in  his  liberation,  but  you  may  be  satisfied 
as  to  his  safety-' 

'  How  did  you  discover  our  situation  1  I  am  puzzled 
to  account  for  it.' 

*  Why,'  said  one  of  the  officers,  'we  actually  went 
as  your  accusers,  heartily  glad  of  your  impending 
fate,  and  dreaming  of  anything  rather  than  a  rescue. 
Three  days  since,  we  were  on  an  excursion,  and  passed 
through  a  party,  who,  I  believe,  had  you  under  ar- 
rest.' 

'Yes,  we  were  bound,  and  guarded:  and  my  invo- 
luntary exclamation  on  recognizing  Gordon,  pro* 
cured  me  the  blow  that  has  so  disfigured  my  mouth.' 

'  The  rascals  !  it  is  well  for  some  of  them,  and  per- 
haps for  us,  that  we  did  not  discover  you  then. 
We  proceeded,  and  soon  after  arrived  at  a  place 
where  it  was  clear  a  combat  of  some  kind  had  oc- 
curred, not  without  bloodshed.     At  a  little  distance 


336  JUD  All's     LION, 

from  this,  we  halted  to  refresh  ourselves  ;  and  Gordon 
straying  along  a  beaten,  but  secluded  track,  suddenly 
shouted  so  loud,  as  to  bring  us  presently  to  his  side. 
He  had  found  several  small  articles  which  seemed  to 
have  been  shaken,  or  otherwise  dislodged,  from  a 
camel's  pack,  and  among  them  a  Hebrew  Bible,  with 
your  name  in  it.  I  never  saw  a  man  more  moved — 
nothing  would  satisfy  him  but  a  hot  pursuit  in  that 
direction,  until  it  happily  occurred  to  us  that  the  Pa- 
sha's men  and  their  Bedouin  prisoners  must  neces- 
sarily have  come  straight  from  the  scene  of  combat, 
having  just  passed  by  us.  We  carefully  traced  the 
camel's  footsteps— for  apparently  there  was  but  one — 
back  to  that  spot ;  here  we  lost  it  in  the  confused 
tramp  of  horses,  and  other  symptoms  of  a  melee.  We 
held  a  council  of  war,  and  decided  on  an  immediate 
return  to  Jerusalem,  where,  with  the  consul's  help, 
who  at  first  was  absent,  but  on  his  return  bestirred 
himself  most  actively,  we  ascertained  that  two  Be- 
douin robbers  had  been  brought  in,  under  the  circum- 
stances and  at  the  time  we  concluded  you  must  have 
arrived.  To-day  we,  by  great  and  persevering  im- 
portunity, saw  the  Aga  ;  and  it  was  to  extort  from 
you  some  tidings  of  yourself,  whom  we  supposed  to 
have  been  murdered  or  spirited  away,  that  we  pre- 
vailed on  the  worthy  Governor  to  summon  you  back, 
though  in  the  way  to  execution,  until  we  should  nar- 
rowly question  you.' 

'  And  how  am  I  to  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  all 
this  noble,  generous  devotion  to  the  cause  of  an  in- 
significant stranger  V 

'  Nay,  if  you  have  any  thanks  to  bestow,  give  them 
to  Gordon,  I  believe  the  fellow  would  have  blown 
our  brains  out,  if  we  had  even  hesitated  in  the 
matter,' 


judah's  lion.  337 

*  No,  no,  sir,'  said  the  Gunner,  '  you  were  both  as 
earnest  in  the  matter  as  though  Mr.  Cohen  had  been 
your  dearest  friend.  I  crave  your  forgiveness  for  my 
many  freedoms  of  speech  and  action  during  the  time  ; 
and  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  thank  you  for  your 
condescension,  in  permitting  me  to  follow  you  on 
this  excursion,  through  a  land  that  for  many  a  year  I 
had  longed  to  see,  little  thinking  that  the  very  indul- 
gence of  my  wish  would  have  brought  with  it  such  a 
blessed  privilege  as  this,  of  helping  to  rescue  one  of 
the  royal  race  of  Jacob  on  the  very  soil  of  his  fa- 
thers !'  He  shrank  again  into  the  rear,  to  hide  the 
emotion  that  overpowered  him. 

'  The  poor  fellow  absolutely  odilzes  you,'  whis- 
pered one  of  the  officers  to  Alick  :  'I  never  saw  such 
devoted  affection.  He  cried  like  a  child  over  your 
Bible,  and  would  fain  have  read  it,  from  the  wrong 
end  backwards  like  English,  but  none  of  us  knew 
a  letter  of  the  character.  We  got  leave  for  him  from 
Beyrout,  where  his  ship  and  ours  are,  to  accompany 
us  on  this  trip,  for  his  enthusiasm  is  quite  piquant  ; 
and  indeed  we  have  learned  more  of  sacred  history 
in  a  few  days  from  him,  than  ever  we  learned  in  all 
our  lives  before.  He  spoke  of  you  more  than  once, 
before  our  adventure,  in  a  way  that  partly  accounted 
for  his  agitation  on  finding  the  Bible.  I  believe  no 
earthly  event  could  have  delighted  him  like  your 
rescue.' 

'  And  to  no  earthly  hand  would  I  so  gladly  owe  it, 
exclaimed  Alick,  deeply  moved  :  'he  has  been  mainly 
instrumental  in  effecting  for  me  a  far  greater  deliver- 
ance.' 

'  Indeed  !  he  never  told  us  of  it.  It  must  be  singu- 
larly remarkable  to  be  greater  than  this.' 

Alick  felt  the   difficulty  of  making  the  avowal  to 


338  jttdah's  lion. 

men  who  evidently  had  no  feeling  of  spiritual  things  ; 
but  he  would  not  keep  silence.  Raising  his  voice,  to 
be  heard  by  all  the  party,  he  said,  '  What  is  the  death 
of  the  body  to  the  death  of  the  soul  1  I,  a  sinful  son 
of  Abraham,  was  living  without  hope  and  under  a 
curse,  because  without  any  faith  in  that  Seed  of  Abra- 
ham in  whom  only,  we,  and  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  are  blessed.  Here,  my  fathers  crucified  their 
King,  their  Messiah,  their  Almighty  Deliverer  ;  and  I, 
in  equal  unbelief,  rejected  Him — Him  who  alone  can 
save  !  It  was  Gordon  who  induced  me  to  study  the 
Scriptures  that  testify  of  him,  and  by  the  Scriptures  I 
was  led — not  without  human  help,  but  still  mainly  by 
the  Scriptures,  to  receive  the  testimony  of  God  con- 
cerning His  Son,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  whom  I  acknow- 
ledge to  be  the  King,  the  divine  King  of  Israel.' 

'  Then  you  have  renounced  Judaism  ]  '  said  the 
younger  officer,  with  an  aspect  of  surprise  and  some 
pleasure. 

'  Renounced  Judaism  1  Never  !  Jesus  never  dis- 
owned it,  his  Apostles  never  renounced  it ;  why  then 
should  1 1  To  be  a  Hebrew  is  my  privilege,  my  glory, 
"^y  joy-  ^  a™  sealed  in  my  flesh  with  the  seal  of  God's 
precious  promises  to  Israel  concerning  this  land, 
which  is  ours  by  His  gift,  and  to  which  He  will  yet 
restore  us  openly  :  I  hope  to  be  sealed  also  with  the 
seal  of  His  spiritual  promises  in  Christ  Jesus,  which 
is  baptism,  but  not  to  do  away  with  the  privileges  of 
circumcision,  which  are  also  mine  by  a  covenant  that 
shall  never  be  broken.' 

Gordon's  countenance  glowed  with  delight  j  the 
others  looked  rather  bewildered,  but  much  interested  ; 
and  the  elder  officer  said,  '  I  doubt  whether  the  clergy 
will  allow  you  to  hold  these  things  together  :  they 
will  say  you  put  new  wine  in  an  old  bottle — a  new 
piece  on  an  old  garment.' 


judah's  lion.  339 

*  Then  they  will  say  wrong,'  answered  Alick-  '  If 
Israel,  as  a  nation,  was  to  be  lost  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  if  this  our  holy  and  beloved  city  was  to 
continue  in  the  hands  of  Gentile  people,  infidels  or  be- 
lievers, then,  I  admit,  a  Jew  embracing  the  faith  of  the 
Gospel  might  cease,  in  outward  distinctions,  to  be  a 
Jew.  But  we  know  the  contrary  ;  we  know  that  the 
land  is  ours  by  a  covenant  for  ever ;  and  we  are 
bound  not  to  despise  the  gift  of  God,  nor  to  cast  from 
us  the  distinctions  that  he  has  been  pleased  to  estab- 
lish between  us  and  other  people.' 

'But  it  is  far  from  being  an  admitted  fact,  that  such 
distinction  is  to  continue  in  your  converted  state. 
You  have  been  kept  distinct,  as  a  sort  of  living  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  of  God's  threatenings,  while  for 
seventeen  hundred  years  your  people  have  been — par- 
don me — outcast  and  despised,  a  monument  of  divine 
indignation.' 

'Aye,  most  true,'  said  Alick,  with  great  animation  ; 
'and  we  shall  be  kept  distinct  as  a  living  testimony 
to  the  truth  of  God's  promises,  restored,  and  in  the 
sight  of  all  people  made  a  monument  of  divine  mercy 
and  love.' 

Gordon,  trembling  with  emotion,  put  into  his  hand 
a  small  Bible,  pointing  out  something,  that  Alick  im- 
mediately and  exultingly  read.  "  Moreover,  the  word 
of  the  Lord  came  to  Jeremiah,  saying,  Considerest 
thou  not  what  this  people  have  spoken,  saying,  The 
two  families  which  the  Lord  hath  chosen,  he  hath  even 
cast  them  offi  Thus  they  have  despised  my  people, 
that  they  should  be  no  more  a  nation  before  them. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  If  my  covenant  be  not  with  day 
and  night,  and  if  I  have  not  appointed  the  ordinances 
of  heaven  and  earth ;  then  will  I  cast  away  the  seed 
of  Jacob,  and  David  my  servant,  so  that  I  will  not  take 


340  jttdah's  lion. 

any  of  his  seed  to  be  rulers  over  the  seed  of  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob:  for  I  will  cause  their  captivity  to 
return,  and  have  mercy  on  them." 

Hitherto  the  group  had  remained,  alone  and  unnotic" 
ed,  in  one  of  the  desolate  streets  of  Jerusalem  ;  stran- 
gers, however,  approached,  and  the  Consul  rccom= 
mended  their  adjourning  to  some  place  where  Alick 
might  lay  aside  his  strange  disguise;  ofTering  every- 
thing in  his'own  power  towards  his  comfortable  do- 
mestication, until  Da  Costa  should  be  liberated.  Alick 
thanked  him,  but  named  the  Ryans  as  friends  to  whom 
he  must  repair  ;  and  after  arranging  to  meet  his  naval 
deliverers  in  the  evening,  he  left  them,  with  oft-re^ 
peated  acknowledgments,  to  seek  out  Captain  Ryan's 
abode,  to  which  they  were  very  near.  His  heart 
throbbed  with  anxiety,  as  he  entered  the  door,  which 
was  partly  open,  but  no  one  was  within.  All,  how* 
ever,  bespoke  the  continued  residence  of  his  friends. 
He  tried  the  door  of  Charley's  apartment,  it  was  fast  j 
he  called,  and  knocked,  but  none  answered.  In  a 
corner,  however,  he  saw  a  bag  that  contained  some 
old  apparel  of  his  own,  to  which  he  helped  himself, 
made  a  hasty  toilet,  and  again  sallied  forth,  towards 
the  Jews'  quarter. 

He  found  old  Wilhelm  in  deep  grief,  weeping  over 
his  prayer-book  ;  and  on  seeing  him,  the  tears  of  the 
afflicted  Israelite  flowed  in  greater  abundance.  Anx- 
iously Alick  inquired  whether  he  had  tidings  of  his 
son.  '  The  worst,  the  worst  of  tidings,'  answered  the 
old  man,  wringing  his  hands  :  '  better  he  had  died  !  bet- 
ter I  had  died  ere  I  heard  it !' 

'  Where  is  he  ?  ' 

'  In  London,  reaping  the  wages  of  his  base  apos* 
tasy.' 

Several  other  Hebrews  entered,  and  their  lamenta* 


judah's  lion.  341 

tions,  intermixed  with  many  heavy  curses  on  the  se- 
duced and  his  seducer,  showed  Alick  what  he  miofht 
himself  expect  to  encounter,  when  his  own  change 
became  known.  He  remained  silent  till  the  storm 
abated,  and  tlien  spoke  of  Da  Costa,  and  related  the 
wonderful  tale  of  his  own  deliverance,  imparting  also 
his  anxiety  concerning  his  friend. 

'  We  can  do  nothing — we  can  do  nothinsr ! '  exclaim* 
ed  the  Jews,  in  renewed  grief-- 'Israel  is  smitten 
wherever  he  be  j  and  chiefly,  here  he  is  smote  with 
the  stroke  of  a  cruel  one.' 

'Better,'  said  old  Wilhelm,  'to  be  smote  with  any 
stroke  than  that  of  the  evil  conscience  of  him  who 
has  forsaken  the  Lord  his  God  to  follow  Baal.'  Ao-ain 
were  the  anathemas  renewed  ;  and  Alick  whispered  to 
Wilhelm,  '  How  can  you  bear  to  hear  such  curses  on 
your  child  ? ' 

'  God  hath  cursed  him,'  answered  the  unhappy  fa- 
ther, '  and  man  but  assents.  His  crime  is  greatly  ag- 
gravated :  he  hath  joined  the  Christians,  and  nearly 
prevailed  to  lead  a  young  maiden  of  Israel  into  an 
evil  path.' 

'Impossible!'  cried  Alick,  as  the  image  of  Esther 
in  all  her  strictness,  rose  before  him. 

'My  son,'  said  an  aged  Rabbi,  'thou  art  happy  in 
conceiving  that  to  be  impossible  which  daily  experi- 
ence among  the  wicked  proves  to  be  not  only  possi- 
ble, but  frequent.  The  subtilty  of  the  Nazarene  doc- 
trine is  great,  and  the  hold  which  it  takes  on  the 
youthful  mind  is  marvellous.  It  is  a  whirlpool — come 
but  within  the  outermost  circle,  and  thou  art  presently 
sucked  down.' 

Alick  replied  not ;  he  would  have  freely  exposed 
himself  to  their  wrath,  and  not  flinched  from  their 
curses  in  the  cause  of  truth,  but  their  sorrow  moved 
30 


84.2  JUDAh's    LlON-o 

him  so  much  that  he  could  not  just  then  add  to  the 
dismay  which  overwhelmed  them.     Never  had  he  felt 
so  tenderly  towards  his  people  as  then,  when  had  they 
known  all  that  had  passed,  they  would  have  spurned 
him  with  indignation.     He  waited  a  space,  then  re« 
newed    his   questions,    until,    with    some    hesitation, 
young  Wilhelm's  letter  was  handed  to  him.     Alick 
eagerly  ran  over  the  contents,  relating  to  his  escape 
from  the  Pvlaronite  fathers,  and  his  involuntary  voyage 
to  England,  in  the  capacity  of  a  common  seaman  ;  his 
meeting  with  a  pious  messmate,  whose  comments  on 
the  word  of  God,  which  he  had  long  studied,  opened 
to  his  view  truths  till  then  unseen  ;  and   several   ad- 
ventures that  befell  him,  and  at  length  came  to  the  part 
which  he   longed  to  read.     Wilhelm,  descanting   on 
the  providential  course  of  circumstances,  mentioned, 
as  confirming  his  view,  the  fact  that  his  betrothed,  who 
had   been  a  most   bitter  opposer  of  the  Gospel,  had 
come  almost  to  the  same  point  with  himself,  through 
the  happy,  rejoicing  death  of  an  old  Christian  servant- 
woman,  long  attached  to  the  family  :  so  that  when  he 
expected  to  encounter  the  most  relentless  opposition^ 
and  probably  to  be  dismissed  for  ever  from  the  regard 
of  that  beloved  object,  he  found  her,  if  possible,  more 
anxious  to  inquire  into  the  doctrines  of  Christianity, 
then  he  was  to  set  them  before  her.     As  Alick  read, 
his  joy  became  too  great  for  concealment,  and  one  of 
the  Rabbins  abruptly  snatched  the  paper  from  his  hand? 
sharply  inquiring  what  made  him  smile. 

'  Pardon  me,'  said  Alick,  '  but  that  lady  is  my  own 
cousin,  and  1  had  not  heard  of  her  since  I  left  Eng- 
land.' 

He  was  rebuked  for  disregard  of  the  glory  of  the 
law ;  and  the  lamentations  being  resumed,  he  took  his 
departure,  promising  to  bring  them  on  the  morn  some 


JUDAH*S    LION.  343 

tidings  of  Da  Costa.  Alick  then  bent  his  way  to  the 
public  place  of  wailing,  where,  standing  a  little  apart, 
with  sympathy  impressed  on  every  rough  line  of  his 
honest  face,  stood  the  Gunner,  who,  when  Alick  plac- 
ed himself  beside  him,  whispered,  '  The  officers  are 
coming  directly:  they  are  wonderfully  moved,  sir,  by 
this  meeting  with  you;  and  full  of  interest  for  your 
dear  people.     May  it  be  increased  a  hundred  fold!' 

Before  Alick  could  reply,  the  two  Englishmen  ap- 
peared, and  he  watched  them  for  some  time  unobserv- 
ed, for  their  whole  attention  was  absorbed  by  the  spec- 
tacle before  them,  than  which  a  more  touching  one 
could  scarcely  be  imagined. 

The  portion  of  wall,  which  no  doubt  is  a  fragment  of 
the  ancient  inclosure  of  Jerusalem,  near  the  south-east- 
ern corner  of  the  outer  court  of  the  Temple,  consists 
of  some  immense  stones,  forming  a  solid  piece  of  ma- 
sonry, and  perforated  in  various  parts,  with  little  chinks 
and  crevices.  These  the  Jews  believe  to  form  the 
gate  through  which  all  prayer  must  pass  on  its  way  to 
heaven,  from  whatever  quarter  of  the  world  ascending  ; 
a  notion  founded,  no  doubt,  on  the  expression  so  fre- 
quently repeated  in  Solomon's  sublime  prayer  of  dedi- 
cation :  "  When  they  shall  pray  towards  this  place," 
and  on  the  custom  of  Israel  so  to  do,  from  all  distanc- 
es, in  the  earliest  times  of  their  dispersion.  Of  course 
no  privilege  is  considered  so  great  as  to  lay  the  lips 
against  one  of  these  crevices,  and  to  v/hisper  the  sup- 
plication through  it,  which  will  yet  be  heard :  even 
the  prayer  for  pardon  and  deliverance.  There  were 
several,  both  of  males  and  females,  present,  some 
speaking  through  these  openings,  others  seated  at  the 
foot  of  the  wall,  weeping  and  wailJng,  and  reciting 
prayers  and  psalms :  among  these  sat  a  most  venera- 
ble man,  of  superior  aspect,  habited  in  a  long  flowing 


344-  judah's  lion. 

gown   of  dark   brown    serge,  with   a   girdle,  to  which 
descended  a  thick  beard  of  glittering  whiteness,  while 
locks  of  the  same  silvery  appearance  shaded  his  face, 
contrasting  with  eyebrows  of  the   deepest   black.     A 
small,  close  black  cap  covered  the  crown  of  his  head, 
and  his  bony  hands  were  clasped  upon  it,  as  if  in  some 
strong    effort  to  repress    the   workings    of  his    brain. 
His  head  was    bowed,  and  tears  slowly  fell    trickling 
over  the  snowy  beard,  to  be  gently  wiped  away  by  the 
hand  of  a  most   lovely  maiden,   who   bent   over  him, 
whispering  from  time  to  time  something  that  evidently 
bore  a  reference  to  the  Temple  ;  for  her    eyes  contin- 
ually wandered  from  her    aged  companion   to  the   di- 
rection in  which  it  stood  ;  and  with  an  upward  cast,  as 
though  contemplating   some   lofty   object.     Her  look 
was  the  very  personification  of  uncomplaining  sorrow, 
and  so  absorbing  as  to  render  her  unconscious   of  all 
around  ;  it  completely  engrossed  her.     After  a  while, 
the  old  man  rose,  and  then   it  became  evident   that  he 
was  totally  blind.     He  lifted  his  venerable  face  to  the 
light,  spread  forth  his  hands,  and   with   slow,    solemn 
movement,  guided  by  the   maiden,  whose    downcast 
eyes  watched  his  every  step,  he  approached  the  wall, 
where  a  crevice   had  just  been  left  by  its  last  proprie- 
tor.    To  this  the  maiden  was  leading  him,  and  as  they 
passed  rather  near,  the  two  young  English  officers  took 
off  their  caps.     It    was  a   spontaneous    movement  of 
respect,  and  to  Alick,  whom  as  yet  they  had  not  per- 
ceived, how  grateful !  The  old  man  reached  the  pLice ; 
his  child  laid    his  trembling   hands  against    the   wall, 
and  as  he  bent  to  the  niirrow  openinof,  deep  sobs  burst 
from  his  bosom,  while  she,  one  hand  spread  over  her 
forehead  and  eyes,  which  were  raised  to  heaven,  pour- 
ed forth  what  seemed  an  agony  of  silent  supplication, 
shaking  her  head,  and  stretching  out  the  other  hand,, 


JUDAH*S    LION.  346 

clenched  with  the  fervency  of  her  nnental  appeal.  The 
younger  sailor  appeared  quite  unnerved  ;  and  turning 
from  them,  encountered  a  look  from  Alick  that  he 
seemed  able  to  appreciate.  The  a2;ed  Hebrew  continue 
ed  to  sob,  and  to  ejaculate  broken  sentences,  until 
Alick,  who  had  just  recovered  from  Gordon  his  pre- 
cious Hebrew  Bible,  stepped  forwards,  and  commenc 
ed,  in  a  low,  solemn,  but  most  distinct  voice,  reading 
in  that  sacred  language  what  the  Gunner  immediately- 
pointed  out  to  the  officers  in  his  own  little  Bible,  for 
Alick  had  shown  him  what  he  was  about  to  repeat. 
"  If  they  sin  against  thee  (for  there  is  no  man  which 
sinneth  not)  and  thou  be  angry  with  them  and  deliver 
them  over  before  their  enemies,  and  they  carry  them 
away  captives,  into  a  land  far  off  or  near  5  yet  if  thej' 
bethink  themselves  in  the  land  whither  they  are  car- 
ried captive,  and  turn  and  pray  unto  Thee  in  the  land 
of  their  captivity,  saying,  We  have  sinned,  we  have 
done  amiss,  and  have  dealt  wickedly;  if  they  return 
to  thee  with  all  their  heart,  and  with  all  their  soul,  in 
the  land  of  their  captivity,  whither  they  have  carried 
them  captives,  and  pray  toward  their  land,  which  thou 
gavest  unto  their  fathers,  and  toward  the  city  which 
thou  hast  chosen,  and  toward  the  house  which  I  have 
built  for  thy  name  ;  then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens, 
even  thy  dwelling-place,  their  prayer  and  their  suppli- 
cation, and  maintain  their  cause,  and  forgive  thy  peo- 
ple which  have  sinned  against  thee."  At  that  word  a 
universal  response  burst  from  all  the  Hebrews  present: 
they  stretched  forth  their  hands,  and  in  one  voice  cri- 
ed, "Forgive  thy  people  which  have  sinned  against 
thee  !"  Alick  resumed;  and  his  tone  became  loud,  and 
his  manner  most  energetic  as  he  proceeded,  "  Now, 
my  God,  let,  I  beseech,  thine  eyes  be  open,  and  thine 
ears  be  attent  unto  the  prayer  that  is  made  in  this  place^ 
30* 


345  JODAH^S  LION. 

Now,  therefore,  arise,  O  Lord  God,  into  thy  resting'- 
place,  thou  and  the  Ark  of  thy  strength;  let  thy 
priests,  O  Lord  God,  be  clothed  with  salvation,  and  let 
thy  saints  rejoice  in  goodness.  O  Lord  God,  turn  not 
away  the  face  of  thine  anointed;  rennember  the  mer-' 
cies  of  David  thy  servant  !"*  And  the  Jews  repeated, 
"Turn  not  away  the  face  of  thine  anointed;  remem- 
ber the  mercies  of  David  thy  servant !" 

The  two  Englishmen  stood  uncovered,  their  hands 
joined  over  the  Gunner's  well-worn  little  Bible,  read- 
ing with  wonder,  awe,  and  delight,  words  that  they 
probably  had  never  before  noticed,  and  looking  on  the 
scene  before  them  as  something  miraculous.  Alick, 
meanwhile,  stepped  up  to  the  blind  old  Israelite,  and 
respectfully  kissing  one  of  the  hands  that  still  rested 
against  the  wall,  emphatically  said,  '  Messiah  Ben- 
David  is  the  hope  of  Israel  :  pray  that  our  God  will 
reveal  him  unto  you.'  '  Bless  thee,  my  son !  '  ex- 
claimed the  old  man ;  and  Alick,  whose  heart  wel- 
comed the  blessing,  exclaimed  to  all  around,  as  he  left 
the  place,  '  Oh  I  pray,  praj^  for  the  revelation  of  Him, 
who  shall  turn  away  ungodlmess  from  Jacob.'  '  We 
do — we  will,'  was  the  reply;  and  blessings  still  fol- 
lowed his  retreating  steps. 

'  I  declare,'  said  one  of  the  officers,  '  we  have  done 
a  better  deed  in  rescuing  you,  Cohen,  than  we  were 
aware  of.  Gordon,  we  owe  you  much  for  putting  us 
up  to  this.' 

'Will  you  love  my  dear  people,  and  serve  them  as 
you  have  opportunity  1 '  asked  Alick. 

'  Aye,  that  we  will ! '  they  replied  ;  and  the  younger 
added,  '  I  have  done  great  injustice  to  your  people — I 
fancied    Jew  only  another  word  for  something  very 

2  Chron.  \L 


JtTDAH's  LION.  347 

disreputable ;  but,  as  long  as  I  live  I  shall  remember 
the  look  of  that  kingly  old  man,  and  his  beautiful 
daughter,  and  blush  for  my  prejudices.' 

'  Something  more  than  that,  I  hope,  sir,'  said  the 
Gunner.  '  You  will  remember  having  stood  on  the 
very  spot  where  God's  temple  was  reared,  and  having 
seen  how,  in  the  midst  of  poverty,  sorrow,  exile,  every 
sort  of  oppression,  His  ancient  people  come  to  plead 
with  Him  the  promises  which  they  know  He  will 
fulfil.' 

'  True.  I  thought  yon  very  bold,  Cohen,  to  speak 
as  you  did  about  the  revealing  of  Him,  who,  of  course, 
is  Jesus  Christ.' 

'  And  I  thought  myself  very  cowardly  to  say  no 
more,'  answered  he  ;  '  but  I  trust  to  speak  out  to  every 
one  of  them  ere  I  depart.' 

'  Hey  day  ! '  cried  the  young  man,  '  what  have  we 
here,  to  run  us  all  down  %  Have  a  care,  my  lad,  or 
you'll  demolish  me  ;'  and  he  stepped  aside,  to  make 
way  for  Charley,  who,  shouting  and  capering  like  a 
mad  creature,  rushed  into  Allele's  arms,  exclaiming, 
'  My  precious  Mr.  Alick!  my  darlint  of  a  Jew  !  is  it 
your  own  self — sure  now,  is  itV 

'My  own,  own  Charley!  and  so  you're  alive,  and 
not  only  alive,  but  strong  enough  to  struggle.  Oh, 
Mrs.  Ryan,  what  joy  it  is  to  see  you — my  dear  sir  J 
here's  my  first  friend,  Gordon,  the  man  who  led  me 
the  first  step  towards  the  blessing  that  now  I  possess 
— the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  my  only 
Savior !' 

Charley's  cry  of  joy  was  quite  startling;  and  the 
tearful  smiles  of  his  parents,  the  commotion  of  delight, 
in  which  Alick  did  not  forget  to  introduce  his  other 
English  preservers,  were  quite  an  unusual  scene  in  the 
streets  of  captive  Zion.     They  were  not  far  from  Cap- 


34.8  judah's  lion. 

tain  Ryan's  abode,  into  which  the  whole  party  entered  i 
and  there  Alick  related  his  strange  adventures,  which 
were  listened  to  with  great  and  varied  emotion  :  but 
when  it  was  stated  that  Da  Costa  remained  imprisoned, 
under  circumstances  so  distressing,  Captain  Ryan 
started  up,  and  said,  'That  will  not  do:  he  must  be 
liberated  at  once.'  '  The  Consul  will  see  to  it,'  said 
one  of  the  officers,  'The  Consul  has  been  hurried 
away  within  this  hour,  on  unexpected,  unavoidable 
business  ;  and  I  happen  to  know  that  Da  Costa  has 
powerful  bitter  enemies,  who  will,  if  they  discover  his 
situation,  strain  every  nerve  to  do  him  some  injury.' 

It  was  Alick's  turn  now  to  jump  up  ;  and  the  other 
gentleman  exclaimed,  'Let  us  go  back  to  the  old  Aga, 
and  demand  him  vi  ct  armis.'' 

'  No,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  caution  is  needful.  The 
party  to  whom  our  poor  friend  is  so  obnoxious  have 
lately  been  very  troublesome  to  the  governor,  through 
a  multitude  of  petty  squabbles  at  the  Church  of  the 
Sepulchre,  and  elsewhere.  They  are  not  very  likely 
to  have  got  any  trace  of  him  ;  and  we  must  be  careful 
to  give  no  public  alarm.'  He  then  pointed  out  the 
best  way  of  proceeding;  and  requesting  an  officer  to 
accompany  him,  left  the  rest  of  the  party  to  talk  over 
their  adventures.  Alick  had  not  mentioned  the  at- 
tempt on  his  faith,  or  rather  on  his  profession  of  faith. 
He,  however,  named  Ali  Mustapha,  of  whom  the 
younger  officer  immediately  said  that  he  was  a  plea- 
sant, good  fellow,  and  had  treated  them  well  at  Bey- 
rout  ;  but  Gordon  looked  severe,  and  evidently  knew 
more  of  him  than  his  superior  did. 

Charley  said,  '  Perhaps,  Mr.  Alick,  now  that  poor 
dear  Mr.  Dockster  is  all  alone  in  prison,  with  a  sore 
knee,  he   may  begin  to  think  what  a  good  friend  the 


judah's  lion.  349 

Lord  Jesus  would  be  to  him  ;  and  so  he  maj'-  pray  and 
be  taught  all  about  him,  you  know.' 

'  That  is  my  hope  and  prayer,  Charley  ;  we  had  a 
great  deal  of  talk,  and  though  I  could  not  convince 
him,  the  Lord  can.' 

'  What !  did  he  know  of  your  being  a  Christian  1  ' 

'  Yes  :  and  I  am  so  thankful  now  to  have  told  him.' 

'It  may  be  the  saving  of  his  soul,'  remarked  Mrs. 
Ryan,  anxiously. 

Gordon  sat  in  a  retired  corner,  always  carefully  ob- 
serving the  respect  due  to  his  superiors  in  rank  and 
station.  Charley  now  went  to  him,  and  was  soon  on 
his  knee,  holding  a  very  long  whispered  communica- 
tion, of  which  Alick  was  evidently  the  subject ;  while 
his  mother  strove  to  render  the  conversation  interest- 
ing and  profitable  to  the  young  officers,  who  told  her 
what  they  had  witnessed  at  the  place  of  wailing,  and 
listened  with  pleasure  to  her  animated  discourse  re- 
specting the  history  and  the  hope  of  Israel.  After  a 
long  absence.  Captain  Ryan  returned,  looking  exceed- 
ingly disturbed,  and  in  reply  to  Allele's  eager  inquiries, 
said  he  feared  there  had  been  some  cruelty  practised 
on  Da  Costa,  who  was  still  beyond  his  reach. 

'  Then,'  said  Alick,  '  I'll  go  instantly,  and  never  lose 
sight  of  the  door  of  that  house  till  I  gain  admittance 
to  him.' 

'  My  dear  fellow,  what  can  you  do  1  This  is  not 
England  :  there  is  no  such  thing  as  personal  liberty 
recognized  beyond  the  shadow  of  our  flag  ;  and  even 
that  is  barely  available  as  a  refuge  during  the  absence 
of  the  Consul.  We  must  seek  higher  help  for  our 
imprisoned  brother  :  he  needs  it.' 

'  Then  let  us  pray  for  him,  sir,  at  least,'  said  Alick. 

'  At  least !  we  will  do  the  most  we  can  for  him  by 
praying.     Prison-walls   and   gates  have    yielded   ere 


350  judah's  lion. 

now  in  Jerusalem  to  the  force  of  prayer.  Let  us  but 
believe,  and  all  will  be  well.'  They  knelt  in  prayer; 
and  very  sweet  it  was  to  Alick  to  unite  in  the  thanks- 
giving of  those  his  only  teachers  in  the  faith  for  the 
mercy  vouchsafed  to  him.  When  they  rose,  the  young 
sailor  said,  '  I  shall  be  made  reliofious  at  this  rate  :  I 
have  heard  more  praying  and  Bible-reading  to-day  than 
ever  I  did  in  my  life,  except  at  the  church.  This  Jeru- 
salem is  a  singular  place.' 

'A  singularly  blessed,  sacred,  and  privileged  place, 
even  in  her  fallen,,  fettered  condition,'  remarked  Cap- 
tain Ryan.  '  What  will  she  be  when  her  light  is  come, 
and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  has  risen  upon  her !' 

It  was  two  days  ere  the  scarred,  emaciated,  half- 
living  form  of  Da  Costa  was,  at  the  urgent  and  even 
menacing-  demand  of  the  British  authorities,  given  up 
to  his  friends  ;  and  they  pretended  that  no  satisfactory 
contradiction  of  his  being  a  plundering  Bedouin  had 
been  offered.  In  fact,  they  starved  him  till  he  had  no 
power  of  making  his  own  defence,  and  then  condemned 
him  on  the  score  of  silence.  They^  however,  delayed 
his  execution,  seeing  that  he  could  not  long  survive  the 
rigors  of  such  gaolers  ;  and  who  shall  say  what  passed 
through  his  mind  during  those  long  dreary  hours  of 
suffering'?  He  was  brought  to  Captain  Ryan's  house, 
insensible,  from  the  sudden  exposure  to  light  and  air  j 
and  Alick  hung  over  him,  almost  distracted  with  grief. 
He  had,  in  spite  of  all  warnings,  fulfilled  his  purpose 
of  watching  the  exterior  of  the  building  that  contained 
the  prison  ;  but  by  this  nothing  could  be  gained.  The 
Englishmen  had  been  obliged  to  proceed  from  the  holy 
city  some  hours  before  Da  Costa  was  given  up  ;  leaving 
Gordon,  however,  to  enjoy  the  rest  of  his  furlough 
there  ;  and  now  the  veteran  devoted  himself  to  assist- 
ing and  comforting  Alick,  whose  distress  was  pitiable- 


JtTDAirs   LION.  351 

After  a  while,  Charley  was  permitted  to  approach,  and 
on  seeing  the  ghastly  object  before  him,  cried  out, 
<  Oh,  it  can't — it  can't  be  Mr.  Dockster  !  ' 

At  his  voice,  the  sufferer  moved,  half-raised  his  eye* 
lids,  and  smiled.  '  Oh,  you  blessed  boy  ! '  said  Alickj 
'you  never  speak  but  to  do  good:'  and  Da  Costa  smiled 
again-. 

Gradually  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  look  at  those 
around  him,  and  to  make  some  faint  and  fruitless  ef- 
fort at  speaking  ;  but  of  his  feelings  he  gave  no  indi* 
cation,  save  those  of  increased  affection  for  his  tender 
nurses  ;  and  a  marked  satisfaction  when  Alick  told 
him  how  they  had  been  traced,  and  made  Gordon  take 
his  hand.  At  one  time  he  asked  if  he  wished  to  see 
any  of  their  brethren,  to  which  no  reply  was  given  ; 
and  then  Alick  ventured  to  add,  '  I  have  heard  of  Wil» 
helm — he  is  safe,  and  in  London.' 

The  pleasure  that  beamed  from  Da  Costa's  counte- 
nance gave  him  almost  the  aspect  of  former  days  ;  and 
then  Alick  whispered,  in  the  lowest  tone,  '  I  could  say 
iriore — I  will  say  it,  dear  Da  Costa — Wilhelm  has  been 
led  to  see  the  Messiah  of  Israel  in  Him  who  was  cru* 
cified,  and  he  is  very  happy — and  Esther  is  of  the  same 
mind.'  The  deepest  crimson  mantled  the  wan  cheek 
and  damp  brow  of  the  dying  man  ;  but  beyond  that,  no 
indication  was  given — his  feelings  were  unfathomable, 
and  all  Alick  could  do  was  to  converse  in  an  audible 
whisper  with  Gordon  and  the  Ryans  on  the  infinite 
mercy  of  God  in  the  redemption  of  the  world  by  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ;  but  Charley  talked  incessantly  in 
his  own  sweet,  touching  way  ;  and  his  little  voice  had 
ialways  charms  for  Da  Costa. 

It  was  on  the  second  day  of  their  watching  over  him, 
that  Alick  caught  the  first  articulate  words  he  had 
spoken  ;  they  were  '  the  Mount  of  Olives.' 


852  JUDAh's  LIONi, 

All  were  puzzled  to  ascertain  what  was  his  mean' 
ino" :  he  seemed  desirous  to  convey  it,  but  could  only 
murmur  those  words,  and  '  die.'     At  last  Charley  whis- 
pered, '  He  wants  to  die  on  the  Mount  of  Olives ;'  and 
to   this  Da  Costa   distinctly    said,  '  Yes.'     Again   and 
again  was   he  asked  if  he  really  wished  to  be  carried 
there,  and  so  evident  was  his  desire  that  they  resolved 
to  fulfil  it.      He  was  placed  on  a  litter,  and  carefully 
borne   across  the    valley  of  Jehosaphat,  and  up   the 
slope  a  short  distance,  to  a  circle  of  Olive-trees,  sup- 
posed to  mark   the   garden  of  Gethsemane.     He   ap- 
peared very  happy,  when  assured   that   the  ancient 
olives  of  the  mountain  were  really  shading  him ;  but 
to  Alick's  fervent,  whispered   intreaty  for  some  word 
to  indicate  the  state  of  his  soul,  he  gave  no  reply.     It 
was  a  bitter  grief  of  heart  to  the  afTectionate  youth, 
and   he  wept  like  a  child  as  he  sat  on  the  ground  be- 
side him.     The  expression   of  that   wasted,  but   still 
fine  countenance,  he  could  not  read.     Sometimes  he 
thought  it  indicated  a  stubborn  resolve  not  to  be  moved 
by  anything,  at  others  he  considered  the  stupor  of  ap- 
proaching death  to  have  benumbed   his  faculties  ;  but 
then  the  eyes  would  unclose,  and  so  much  life,  mean- 
ino-,  and  vivid  intellect   shone  in   their  dark  orbs,  that 
he  was  obliged   to  relinquish   the  supposition,  and   a 
hope  that  even  then  the  work  was  being  carried  on  in 
that  precious  soul  beamed   upon   his   agitated  spirit. 
There  were  moments  too,  when  he  read  in  that  mys- 
terious stillness  of  feature,  the  calm  of  one  who   has 
stayed  himself  on  the  Rock  of  his  salvation.     But  all 
was  surmise  ;  and   poor  Alick  writhed   under  the  in- 
certitude of  his  thoughts. 

It  was  a  solemn  scene  !  Beneath  them  lay  the  holy 
city,  the  summit  of  Mount  IVIoriah,  the  inclosure  where 
stood  the  temple  of  the  Lord  being  almost  under  their 


JUDAIl's  LION.  353 

feet,  so  close  did  it  appear,  notwithstanding  the  deep 
ravine  that   forms   the  bed  of  the  Kedron  ;  the  valley 
of  the  graves  of  Israel,  the  burial-place  of  the  tribes 
for  thousands  of  years,  and  to  this  day  the  most  covet- 
ed spot  of  sepulture  to  the  Jew,  wheresoever  he  may 
be  scattered.     Above,  waved   the   few  thin   leaves  of 
those  patriarchal  olives,  coeval,  probably,  with  the  per- 
sonal ministry  of  the  Lord  of  glory  on  earth.     All  was 
calm  and  still,  scarcely  a  sound  broke  the  deep  silence 
of  the  awe-struck  beholders,  who  gathered  round  the 
dying  Israelite,  absorbed  in  secret  prayer  for  one  who 
perhaps   was  offering   no  acceptable   supplication    for 
himself.     Each   had,  in  turn,  whispered   some  gentle 
word  of  Christian  hope,  promise,  eternity  ;  but  though 
no   repulse  was  given,  neither  could   encouragement 
be  traced.     At  length  Gordon  spoke  in  a  low  voice  to 
Charley,   who    had    been   alternately   peeping    in  Da 
Costa's  face  and   hiding  his  own   in   his  mother's  bo- 
som ;  for  the  child  was  frightened,  yet  any   sugges- 
tion of  removing  him   threw  him   into  such  an  agony 
that  it  was  not  persevered  in.     He  was  now  listening 
to  Gordon,  ani   turning  with   him  over   the   leaves  of 
the   Bible   until   something   arrested    them.     Charley 
then  slowly  and  somewhat  fearfully  approached,  hold- 
ing  the   book   in   both   his   hands  ;  and   stealing  one 
timid  look  at   the  corpse-like  face,  he   held   the  book 
so  as  to  screen  him  from  a  second  view,  lifted   up  his 
broad  forehead  and  began,  in  a  tone  so  audible,  enun- 
ciation   so  clear,  and   emphasis  so   marked,  as   to  as- 
tonish those  around  him,  "  Let  God  arise,  let  his  ene- 
mies be  scattered  ;  let  them  also  that  hate    him  flee 
before  him."     He  proceeded  with   the  Psalm,  without 
faltering  ;  but    so  slowly  as   to   give   eflVct   to  every 
word.     Da  Costa's  eyes  were   immediately  unclosed; 
the  well-known  lofty  sounds  seemed  to  revive  all  the 
31 


354)  judah's  lion. 

fire  of  his  character — his  lips  moved,  evidently  accom- 
panying the  earnest  little  reader.  At  length  he  ar- 
rived at  the  18th  verse,  "  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high, 
thou  hast  led  captivity  captive  ;  thou  hast  received 
gifts  from  man  ;  yea,  for  ihe  rebellious  also,  that  God 
might  dwell  among  them."  Here  his  voice  trembled, 
and  he  hesitated,  as  if  about  to  speak,  but  proceeded 
vi^ith  much  pathos — "Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily 
loadeth  us  with  benefits,  even  the  God  of  our  salva- 
tion. He  that  is  our  God  is  the  God  of  salvation," — 
here  he  dropped  the  book,  fell  on  the  neck  of  his  dy- 
ing friend,  and  with  a  burst  of  tears  cried  out,  'Oh, 
he  is!  he  is!  Our  God  is  the  God  of  salvation.  Dear, 
darling  Jew,  don't  die  without  believing  in  the  God  of 
salvation.  He  loves  you,  oh,  he  does  ;  He  loves  dear 
Israel — He  stood  here  and  wept  over  Jerusalem.  Be- 
lieve, believe,  oh  do  believe  in  Jesus!'  Sobs  stopped 
his  voice,  and  Alick  would  have  raised  him,  but  Da 
Costa  had  thrown  his  arm  over  him,  and  held  him  fast. 
The  child's  soft  face  was  resting  on  his  shoulder,  one 
little  hand  raised  in  supplication  ;  and  by  an  effort  he 
suppressed  his  sobs,  and  said  very  earnestly,  '  You 
can't  think  what  a  loviny:  Savior  lie  is  :  you  don't  see 
Him;  but  when  they  stoned  Stephen  somewhere  here- 
abouts, he  looked  up,  and  saw  Jesus  standing  at  the 
right  hand  of  God.'  Da  Costa  suddenly  raised  his 
eyes,  with  a  look — a  gaze  towards  heaven,  so  eager, 
so  expecting,  that  Alick  was  electrified.  Charley  went 
on  :  '  You  can't  do  without  a  sacrifice  ;  and  see,  the 
naugiity  Turks  have  got  the  temple  there  and  shut 
you  out,  and  you  can't  sacrifice  a  lamb,  nor  a  bull ; 
but  here  the  Lord  stood  after  ho  had  sacrificed  him- 
self, and  ascended  upon  high  ;  and  he  wiU  come  again, 
He  will,  He  will,  the  King  of  Israel- and  He  is  the 
God    of   our    salvation.'     Da  Costa's   eyes  remained 


judah's  lion.  355 

fixed,  but  one  more  ffleam  of  brijjhtness  flashed  across 
them  ;  he  extended  his  ar0is,  and  ejaculating  the  Avord 
'  Come  ! '  departed. 

Many  months  after  this  occurred,  a  large  party  of 
English  naval  officers,  with  several  wealthy  merchants 
and  travellers,  were  assembled  at  one  of  the  principal 
sea-ports  of  the  Mediterranean,  while  within  view  rode 
the  gallant  ship  that  had  conveyed  the  Cohens  out. 
It  was  a  royal  fete-day,  and  the  proud  standard  of  Eng- 
land streamed  not  only  from  the  mast-heads  of  her 
various  vessels,  but  also  from  a  rampart,  so  near  the 
foot  of  which  their  hotel  stood,  that  every  fresh  gust 
from  the  sea  caused  a  portion  of  the  broad  banner  to 
sweep  before  the  open  window  of  that  spacious  apart- 
ment. It  was  no  riotous  assemblage  of  intemperate 
men,  but  a  hospitable  farewell  entertainment  given  by 
some  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  to  their  de- 
parting friends.  The  last  glass  was  filled  ;  and  as  at 
that  moment  the  bold  flaa:  was  driven  well-ni^h  over 
the  head  of  the  president,  he  turned  round,  and  play- 
fully saluting  it,  gave  the  '  Lion  of  England.'  Hear- 
tily, cheerily,  was  the  sentiment  welcomed  ;  and  one 
among  the  company  rose,  his  youthful  cheek  glowing 
with  emotion,  and  his  figure  expanding  with  the  con- 
scious importance  of  his  theme.  'M»y  the  most  in- 
significant, and  perhaps  the  youngest  of  this  assem- 
blage, presume  to  rise  uncalled,  and  respond  to  such 
a  sentiment  1  Yes;  for  I  represent  a  nation  whose 
symbol  is  identical  with  your  own,  whose  children  are 
intermingled  v/ith  your  population,  one  with  you,  yet 
ever  distinct,  and  to  be  more  distinct  and  more  dis- 
tinguished still,  as  I  confidently  believe,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  England.  I  am  a  Jew  ;  a  year  since 
I  first  went  on  board  yonder  ship,  devotedly  English, 
but  towards  my  own    people  indifferent,  or  worse. 


356  judah's  lion. 

That  standard,  Gentlemen,  that  pictured  lion  now 
floating  over  the  wave,  was  the  ntieans  of  making  me 
indeed  a  Jew.  Possessed  with  the  belief,  that  includ- 
ed in  your  escutcheon  was  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah,  I  gave  myself  to  searching  the  Scriptures  for 
information  respecting  Judah's  Lion  ,  and  by  Divine 
mercy  I  found  him  indeed  j  found  him  in  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain.'  He  paused,  almost  overcome  5  but  a 
burst  of  delighted  encouragement  from  his, friendly 
auditors,  induced  him  to  proceed.  'Becoming  a 
Christian,  do  I  cease  to  be  a  Jew  ?  God  forbid  !  I 
turn  to  you,  the  inheritors  of  that  faith  which  my  fa- 
thers first  proclaimed  to  the  Gentiles,  and  I  tell  you 
that  the  noblest  cause  your  unconquered  lion  can  es- 
pouse, is  that  of  my  people,  God's  offending,  outcast, 
but  >till  beloved  Israel.  I  have  trod  these  Easicrn 
shores  ;  I  have  wept  over  the  desolations  of  Jerusa- 
lem ;  1  have  visited  the  fallen  cities  of  Judah  ;  I  have 
trodden  the  lofty  steeps  of  Lebanon,  tasted  the  re- 
freshing streams  of  Jordan,  sailed  across  the  lake  Gen- 
nesaret,  and  sought  out  in  every  corner  of  the  land 
the  few  scattered  remnants  of  her  ancient  tribes  who 
linger  among  kindred  ruins.  I  have  explored  the 
country,  with  a  view  of  testing  its  present  capabilities 
of  repaying  such  labor  and  capital  as  might  be  be- 
stowed on  it,  without  any  reference  to  the  promise  of 
renewed  fertility,  a  miraculous  gift  to  be  hereafter 
conferred  by  the  God  of  Israel,  when  He  shall  Eim- 
self  arise  on  behalf  of  his  pardoned  people.  I  speak 
of  what  I  know,  when  I  assert,  that  Judea,  having  en- 
joyed her  sabbaths,  is  even  now  prepared  to  yield  a 
thousand-fold  return  to  the  patient  cultivator.  I  speak 
of  what  is  certain,  when  I  say,  that  the  path  opens  be- 
fore us,  for  restoring,  according  to  the  sure  word  of 
prophecy,  the  dispersed  of  Judah  to  their  inheritance  j 


judah's  lion.  357 

and  I  appeal  to  you,  to  bear  it  ever  in  mind,  that  each 
successiv'e  event  of  these  marvellous  days,  is  tending- 
to  that  issue.  I  ask  you  to  watch  ;  to  seize  every  oc- 
casion of  facilitating  our  return  ;  not  for  our  sakes, 
but  for  your  own.  God's  purposes  towards  us  cannot 
fail,  though  the  whole  world  were  banded  together 
against  us ;  but  I  love  England,  I  desire  to  see  her 
noble  lion  supreme  among  the  nations  ;  and  to  insure 
this,  I  would  see  him  ever  closely  allied  to  the  i-ion 
of  Judah.  As  (-'hristian  men,  you  are  bound  to  love 
the  beloved  of  the  Lord's  soul,  whom  he  hath  indeed 
given  for  a  time  into  the  hands  of  her  enemies,  but 
towards  whom  He  purposes  most  glorious  things,  to 
His  own  eternal  praise.  We  gave  you  the  Bible, 
there  is  not  in  that  sacred  volume  a  line  not  written 
by  a  Jew  j — search,  then,  in  its  pages,  for  the  record 
of  God's  everlasting  love  to  us,  and  grasp  the  blessing 
sealed  to  those  who  bless  his  Israel.  One  portion  of 
that  record  I  will  repeat: — "Behold,  I  will  gather 
them  out  of  all  countries  whither  I  have  driven  them 
in  mine  anger,  and  in  my  fury,  and  in  great  wrath ; 
and  I  will  bring  them  again  into  this  place,  and  1  will 
cause  them  to  dwell  safely,  and  they  shall  be  my  peo- 
ple, and  I  will  be  their  God ;  and  I  will  give  them  one 
heart  and  one  way,  that  they  may  fear  me  for  ever, 
for  the  good  of  them,  and  of  their  children  after  them ; 
and  I  will  make  an  everlastiimg  covenant  with  them, 
that  I  will  not  turn  away  from  them  to  do  them  good : 
but  I  will  put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall 
not  depart  from  me.  Yea,  I  will  rejoice  over  them  to 
do  them  good,  and  I  will  plant  tham  in  this  land  as- 
suredly, with  my  whole  heart,  and  with  my  whole 
soul.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Like  as  I  have  brought 
all  this  great  evil  upon  this  people,  so  will  I  bring 
upon  them  all  the  good  that  I  have  promised  them." 


358  judah's  lion. 

This  is  our  charter  j  on  this  covenant  we  rely,  and 
may  it  be  England's  privilege  to  labor  in  our  cause, 
that  she  may  rejoice  in  our  joy,  when  our  tribes  shall 
assemble,  and  our  cities  be  built,  and  the  land  of  Is- 
rael rest  in  unbroken  peace,  under  the  sure  shadow 
of  Judah's  Almighty  Lion  ; — 'for  unto  Him  shall  the 
Gentiles  seek,  and  His  rest  shall  be  glorious  ! ' 


THE  END. 


university  of  California 
SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  L  BRARY  FAClLIT^jjj 

-  toriso"^^is:cr.«ok?.uyooi°i^ir" 

Returnihlsn«teriano««li^^ 


3  1158  01168  2308 


uc 


SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  UBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    000  365  577    6 


1 


